Moon Phase Today Lincoln

Moon Phase Today Lincoln: New Moon

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the moon in Lincoln is a New Moon with 0% illumination. Moon age: 29.0 days.

Illumination
0%
Moon Age
29.0d
Next Full Moon
Oct 25
Distance
--
☽ Moonrise
6:35 AM
↑ Highest
—
☾ Moonset
6:23 PM

moon-phase-today-lincoln-skyline

☽ Best Places to View the Moon in Lincoln, NE

Lincoln sits on Nebraska's Great Plains, flat enough that a genuinely open horizon is easy to find, and the city is unusual in actually having a real public observatory. 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 daytime-only hours or a limited weekly schedule, so check each entry's current status against your date. Here are six Lincoln locations that offer different ways to experience or photograph the moon.

1

Hyde Memorial Observatory (Holmes Park)

A real public observatory on the south side of Holmes Lake, owned by the City of Lincoln and run by volunteers, with three telescopes and a solar telescope devoted entirely to public viewing. It's free and open every Saturday night year-round (except near major holidays), with hours that shift seasonally: March 15 through August, sundown–11 p.m.; September, 8–11 p.m.; and October 1 through March 14, 7–10 p.m. Address: south shore of Holmes Lake, Holmes Park.

2

Nebraska State Capitol

Nebraska's 400-foot-tall Art Deco State Capitol, crowned by the Sower statue, visible from miles away and one of Lincoln's most recognizable landmarks. Per the Capitol's own current visitor information, the 14th-floor observation deck and tower are closed for HVAC construction, and the building itself keeps daytime-only hours (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun 1–5 p.m.) even when open — so treat this as a landmark to photograph from the surrounding grounds or streets rather than a place to watch a moonrise from inside. Check the Capitol's site for the latest status before planning around it. Address: 1445 K St.

3

Pioneers Park Nature Center

A 668-acre wildlife sanctuary of prairie, woodland, and wetland within the larger Pioneers Park, with eight miles of trails, bison and elk exhibits, and several ponds. Access varies by area: the Prairie Building operates Monday–Saturday 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Sunday noon–4:30 p.m.; gated trails run 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; and non-gated trails north of the park road have longer seasonal hours (6 a.m.–11 p.m. during daylight saving time, 7 a.m. to sunset the rest of the year) — check current trail access before planning an evening visit. Address: 3201 S Coddington Ave.

4

Holmes Lake Park

A 110-acre reservoir built in 1962 for flood control and recreation, with a walking trail along the shore and a dam and open water that provide a broad eastern-sector view — potentially useful for moonrise photography, depending on the moon's exact rising azimuth on your date. Specific park-wide hours weren't confirmed for this listing; check posted signage, especially since the Hyde Observatory shares this park and keeps its own separate schedule. Address: S 70th St & Normal Blvd.

5

Sunken Gardens

A terraced, sunken flower garden first developed in 1930, included in National Geographic's "300 Best Gardens to Visit in the United States and Canada," with over 30,000 different annuals replanted each year. Reported hours vary by source — figures ranging from dawn-to-dusk to as late as 5 a.m.–11 p.m. daily appear across different listings — so check current posted signage. Free, donations accepted. Address: 2601 D St.

6

Haymarket District (Downtown)

Lincoln's historic warehouse district turned entertainment area, with brick streets, restaurant patios, and the Railyard development. Public streets and sidewalks rather than a gated park; individual restaurants and bars keep their own hours. Centered near 7th & P streets.

◉ 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 park's posted rules before setting up — Great Plains wind can be stronger and steadier than it looks
📷Shoot RAW and expose for the moon — it's much brighter than the surrounding prairie, lake, or garden 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 and using a longer focal length changes the framing and relative apparent scale of foreground and background objects, which is what produces those dramatic huge-moon photos
🌾Check the forecast for wind and haze — Lincoln's relatively open Great Plains setting can provide broad horizons in some locations, but trees, buildings, and other local obstructions still matter, and haze can soften a low moon's edge
🕐 Timezone

Lincoln runs on Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) in summer, since Nebraska 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 Lincoln — a working public observatory, a domed capitol tower, and a sunken flower garden all sharing the same lunar glow.

The moon phase today in Lincoln 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

Saturday nights at Hyde Observatory can bring together families, amateur astronomers, and visitors seeing through a telescope for the first time, with volunteers helping guests use the observatory's equipment.

Around the Capitol grounds after the building itself has closed, the illuminated facade and the Sower statue overhead can make a striking foreground, even with the observation deck off-limits — a landmark you experience from the outside rather than the top.

At Holmes Lake, the dam path can be quiet in the evening, with anglers along the shore. On calmer evenings, the lake can provide reflections of whatever the sky is doing, though wind and water conditions vary.

"Saturday nights at Hyde Observatory can bring together families, amateur astronomers, and visitors seeing through a telescope for the first time, with volunteers helping guests use the observatory's equipment."

✓ Your Lincoln 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 site's access hours — Hyde Observatory opens Saturday nights, while Pioneers Park has different hours for its buildings, gated trails, and non-gated trails
  • Verify Site Access: the Nebraska State Capitol's observation deck is currently closed for construction — check the Capitol's own site for the latest status before planning around it
  • Use PhotoPills or Stellarium to check whether the moon will align with a specific landmark on your date
  • Check the forecast for wind and haze — Nebraska's open plains can mean stronger, steadier wind than you'd expect
  • Confirm current rules on tripods and photography at your chosen park, especially for anything beyond personal use

What to Bring

  • A telephoto lens, often 200mm or longer, can help frame the moon tightly with the Capitol tower or a distant landmark
  • A warm layer — Nebraska evenings can turn cool quickly, even after a warm day, especially near the lake
  • A remote shutter release or a 2-second timer to avoid shake on tripod shots
  • A small donation if you're visiting Hyde Observatory, since its equipment and programs are funded by donations
  • A flashlight or headlamp if you're using trails away from parking areas; check trail hours and conditions first

On the Night

  • As a general recommendation, arrive at your viewpoint at least 30–45 minutes early, especially at Hyde Observatory on clear Saturday nights
  • Focus manually on the moon's edge — parking-lot and garden lighting can confuse autofocus at dusk
  • Bracket your exposures — one for the bright lunar disc, one for the darker prairie, lake, or garden 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
  • Plan to be back at your vehicle before each park's posted closing time — don't count on staying past it
The moon over Lincoln moves between two very different stages — the hands-on science of a real telescope, and the wide-open quiet of the plains stretching out from the city's lakes and gardens. Use the tools on this page, pick your vantage point, and catch a Lincoln moonrise for yourself.

? Lincoln Moon Phase — Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the moon phase today in Lincoln?

The moon phase today in Lincoln is a New Moon with 0% illumination. The next full moon is in 17 days, on Oct 25. Moonrise is at 6:35 AM and moonset at 6:23 PM.

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

Hyde Memorial Observatory at Holmes Park is the standout spot — a real public observatory with three telescopes, free and open every Saturday night year-round. The Nebraska State Capitol's Art Deco tower and Sower statue make Lincoln's most recognizable landmark to shoot from the surrounding grounds, Holmes Lake Park offers a broad eastern-sector view over open water, and Pioneers Park Nature Center, Sunken Gardens, or the Haymarket District add further prairie, botanical, or downtown alternatives.

Q. Can I go inside the Capitol to watch the moon from the tower?

Not currently — the Capitol's 14th-floor observation deck is closed for HVAC construction, and the building itself keeps daytime-only hours even when open. It's best treated as a landmark to photograph from the grounds or nearby streets rather than a viewing platform, so check the Capitol's own site for the latest status before planning around it.

Q. Does Lincoln observe daylight saving time?

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

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

The moon's exact rising point shifts along the horizon night to night as it moves through its roughly 27.3-day sidereal orbit, so alignment with a specific landmark depends on the date rather than the season. Whatever the date, it's worth checking the forecast for wind and haze, since Nebraska's open plains can bring stronger, steadier wind than expected.

Q. Does this page work for cities besides Lincoln?

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