Moon Phase Today Kansas City

Moon Phase Today Kansas City: New Moon

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the moon in Kansas City is a New Moon with 0% illumination. Moon age: 29.1 days.

Illumination
0%
Moon Age
29.1d
Next Full Moon
Oct 25
Distance
--
☽ Moonrise
6:25 AM
↑ Highest
—
☾ Moonset
6:16 PM

moon-phase-today-kansas-city-live-details

☽ Best Places to View the Moon in Kansas City, MO

Kansas City is built across a series of bluffs above the Missouri River, giving it more natural elevated viewpoints than most cities on the Great Plains — and its most famous landmark, a 217-foot war memorial tower, doubles as one of the city's best public overlooks (the museum itself calls it the best view in Kansas City). The date and your observing location together determine the moon's rise time and direction; your viewpoint determines how much of that horizon is actually unobstructed. Several of the spots below keep specific hours or a scheduled program, so check each entry's current status against your date. Here are six Kansas City locations that offer different ways to experience or photograph the moon.

1

Liberty Memorial Tower (National WWI Museum and Memorial)

An elevator and 45 steps take you to an open-air observation deck 217 feet above the memorial courtyard, with a 360° view the museum itself calls the best in the city. General museum hours are roughly 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (check the current weekly schedule, since some days are closed), with the last elevator up at 4:15 p.m. Special "Tower After Hours" programs periodically extend access into the evening on specific scheduled dates — for example, select Wednesdays in September and October 2026 — rather than as a standing evening option; check the museum's current calendar for dates, times, and weather-related closures. Address: 2 Memorial Dr.

2

Penn Valley Park (Memorial Hill)

A 176.58-acre park surrounding the Liberty Memorial, where the view of the tower and skyline from the North Lawn is free and doesn't require museum admission — one of the most photographed scenes in the city. Official park hours are 5 a.m.–midnight daily. It's a large, hilly park without much lighting away from the memorial itself, so exercise normal caution if visiting alone after dark. Address: Pershing Rd & Main St.

3

Berkley Riverfront Park

A riverfront park on the south bank of the Missouri River between the Kit Bond and Heart of America bridges, with a nearly one-mile lighted esplanade, open grassy areas, and views of both the river and the downtown skyline. Built on a former landfill and construction-debris site, redeveloped and opened to the public in 1999. No specific closing hours were confirmed for this listing; check current signage. Address: 1298 E River Front Rd.

4

Percheron Rooftop Bar (Crossroads Hotel)

A seasonal rooftop bar atop the Crossroads Hotel, with a view over the Crossroads Arts District and downtown skyline. Current listed hours are Monday–Thursday 4–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday noon–midnight, and Sunday noon–11 p.m. All ages are welcome from 4–8 p.m.; after 8 p.m. the rooftop is 21+. Most seating is first-come, first-served, with reservations available through OpenTable for groups of 6–16. Address: 2101 Central St.

5

Kessler Park & Cliff Drive Scenic Byway

A 300-acre park in northeast Kansas City's Historic Northeast area, centered on Cliff Drive — a 4.5-mile road along the bluffs above the Missouri River, established in 1900 as Missouri's only urban scenic byway. Official hours are 5 a.m.–midnight daily. Cliff Drive itself is currently closed to motorized vehicles every day, so the drive functions as a walking and cycling route rather than a scenic car ride — check current conditions before visiting after dark. Near Gladstone Blvd & Cliff Dr.

6

West Bluffs / Case Park Area

A cluster of bluff-top viewpoints just west of downtown overlooking the West Bottoms and the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. Case Park itself has official hours of 5 a.m.–midnight daily, but the surrounding "West Bluffs" area covers several informal viewpoints beyond the park's own boundaries — don't assume every spot along the bluff shares Case Park's access rules. Scout in daylight first, since exact conditions vary by location. Near Summit St & W Pennway St.

◉ Best Times for Moon Photography

🌕 Full Moon ±1 day — brightest phase, though not necessarily the most photogenic for every landmark shot
🌔 Days before full — the moon generally rises later each evening as full approaches, eventually rising around sunset at full moon, though the exact timing varies with the date and season
🧭 Landmark alignments — the moon generally rises somewhere in the eastern half of the sky, but its exact rising point shifts along the horizon from night to night as it moves through its roughly 27.3-day sidereal orbit, so check the exact date and viewpoint rather than assuming it will rise due east

📷 Quick Photography Tips

🎯Use a sturdy tripod, and check each venue's posted rules before setting up — the Liberty Memorial Tower's open-air deck can be windy
📷Shoot RAW and expose for the moon — it's much brighter than the surrounding skyline or river landscape
📏Looney 11 rule — a useful starting point for a bright full moon: f/11, ISO 100, 1/100s, then check your histogram and adjust for phase, atmospheric conditions, and your equipment
🌕Low on the horizon, the moon can look strikingly large — that's the well-known "moon illusion," a perceptual effect rather than an actual change in angular size. A telephoto lens doesn't magnify the moon relative to the foreground on its own; shooting from farther away changes the angular size relationship between a distant foreground object and the moon, and a longer focal length just lets you frame that distant composition tightly
🌫️Check the forecast for haze, fog, humidity, and cloud cover — Kansas City's weather can change quickly, and atmospheric haze or moisture can reduce lunar contrast and sharpness near the horizon
🕐 Timezone

Kansas City runs on Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) in summer, since Missouri observes daylight saving time. PhotoPills or Stellarium will handle the moon's exact rise azimuth for any of these spots automatically.

Enjoy the moon over Kansas City — a war memorial tower turned observation deck, a riverfront esplanade, and a bluff-top view of two rivers meeting all sharing the same lunar glow.

The moon phase today in Kansas City is shown in detail above — complete with exact illumination percentage, moonrise/set times, and the best local spots to see it. For the moon phase today in any other city worldwide, visit our Dynamic Moon Phase Calculator on the home page.

◐ What the Experience Actually Feels Like

Up on the Liberty Memorial Tower's open-air deck, the climb — elevator, then 45 steps — feels like a small ritual before the payoff: a 360° view taking in Union Station, the Crossroads, and the wider metro. It's one of the few spots in the city where you're looking down on the skyline rather than up at it.

Down on Penn Valley Park's North Lawn, the same tower becomes the subject rather than the vantage point — the classic postcard framing, with Union Station and the skyline behind it. The park's hills and valleys make it feel larger and less manicured than a typical city park, which is part of its appeal and part of why it's worth visiting with company after dark.

At Percheron, the mood is social from the start — communal tables, patio games, a rotating cocktail list — with the Crossroads Arts District's galleries and murals visible below as the sky changes color. It's a livelier, more curated way to catch a moonrise than any of the parks offer.

"Up on the Liberty Memorial Tower's open-air deck, the climb feels like a small ritual before the payoff: a 360° view taking in Union Station, the Crossroads, and the wider metro."

✓ Your Kansas City Moon Chase Checklist

Before You Go

  • Check the moonrise time and rise azimuth for your date — the date and your observing location together determine the moon's rise time and direction, while your viewpoint determines how much of that horizon is unobstructed
  • Check both the moon's rise time and the venue's hours — the Liberty Memorial Tower's last regular elevator is at 4:15 p.m.; special Tower After Hours programs extend access on selected evenings, so check the current museum calendar for the date you're planning
  • Verify Site Access: Percheron is a seasonal rooftop bar closed Monday and Tuesday — check current hours before heading to the Crossroads specifically for it
  • Use PhotoPills or Stellarium to check whether the moon will align with a specific landmark on your date
  • Check the forecast for haze and humidity off the river, and for Kansas City's sometimes fast-changing continental weather
  • Confirm current rules on tripods and photography at your chosen venue, especially the Tower's observation deck

What to Bring

  • A telephoto lens, often 200mm or longer, can help frame the moon tightly with the Liberty Memorial Tower or the downtown skyline
  • A payment method for Tower admission and Percheron's menu, since the parks and bluffs are free — Tower pricing varies by date and program, so check current rates
  • A remote shutter release or a 2-second timer to avoid shake on tripod shots
  • A jacket — the Tower's open-air deck and the river bluffs can be windier and cooler than street level
  • A flashlight or headlamp for Penn Valley Park or the Cliff Drive area after dark, and consider going with company rather than alone

On the Night

  • As a general recommendation, arrive at your viewpoint at least 30–45 minutes early, especially at the Tower and Percheron on clear weekend evenings
  • Focus manually on the moon's edge — the Tower's Flame of Inspiration effect and downtown lighting can confuse autofocus at dusk
  • Bracket your exposures — one for the bright lunar disc, one for the darker skyline or river below
  • If the moon looks soft or hazy right at moonrise, consider waiting until it climbs higher above the horizon, when atmospheric effects are often less pronounced
  • Confirm current closing times before you go, and plan to be back at your vehicle with time to spare rather than counting on staying past posted hours
The moon over Kansas City moves between two very different stages — the deliberate climb to a century-old memorial tower, and the wide, open bluffs where two rivers meet. Use the tools on this page, pick your vantage point, and catch a Kansas City moonrise for yourself.

? Kansas City Moon Phase — Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the moon phase today in Kansas City?

The moon phase today in Kansas City is a New Moon with 0% illumination. The next full moon is in 17 days, on Oct 25. Moonrise is at 6:25 AM and moonset at 6:16 PM.

Q. Where is the best place to view the moon in Kansas City?

Liberty Memorial Tower at the National WWI Museum and Memorial is the standout spot, a 217-foot open-air observation deck the museum itself calls the best view in the city. Penn Valley Park's North Lawn gives the same tower-and-skyline view for free without museum admission, Berkley Riverfront Park offers a lighted esplanade along the Missouri River, and Percheron Rooftop Bar, Kessler Park's Cliff Drive Scenic Byway, or the West Bluffs near Case Park add further rooftop, bluff-top, or river-confluence alternatives.

Q. Do these viewing spots stay open after dark?

It varies — Liberty Memorial Tower's regular hours end with the last elevator at 4:15 p.m., though special "Tower After Hours" programs periodically extend access into the evening on specific scheduled dates, so check the museum's current calendar. Penn Valley Park, Kessler Park, and Case Park are all open 5 a.m. to midnight daily, and Percheron Rooftop Bar is a seasonal venue closed Monday and Tuesday, with the rooftop turning 21+ after 8 p.m.

Q. Does Kansas City observe daylight saving time?

Yes. Kansas City runs on Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) in summer, since Missouri observes daylight saving time on the standard U.S. schedule.

Q. What's the best time of year for moon photography in Kansas City?

The date and your observing location together determine the moon's rise time and direction, so alignment with the Tower or a specific bluff-top view depends on the exact night rather than the season. Whatever the date, it's worth checking the forecast for haze and humidity off the river, along with Kansas City's sometimes fast-changing continental weather.

Q. Does this page work for cities besides Kansas City?

This page is set up specifically for Kansas City, Missouri. For the moon phase in any other city or location worldwide, use the Dynamic Moon Phase Calculator on the moonphase.today home page.