Moon Phase Today Long Beach

Moon Phase Today Long Beach: New Moon

On Saturday, October 10, 2026, the moon in Long Beach is a New Moon with 0% illumination. Moon age: 0.4 days.

Illumination
0%
Moon Age
0.4d
Next Full Moon
Oct 25
Distance
--
☽ Moonrise
7:03 AM
↑ Highest
—
☾ Moonset
6:23 PM

moon-phase-today-long-beach-skyline

☽ Best Places to View the Moon in Long Beach, CA

Long Beach sits where the Los Angeles Basin meets the Pacific, so its best moon-viewing spots split between open ocean views along the bluffs and beaches, harbor views around downtown's Rainbow Harbor, and an elevated hilltop overlook a few minutes inland. Coastal marine layer — the low clouds and haze that build up along the Southern California coast, especially in late spring and early summer — can soften or hide a low moon here even on an otherwise clear-sounding night, so it's worth checking sky conditions along with the forecast. As always, the moon's exact rise time and direction shift with the date and your observing location, so it's worth checking both against whichever spot you're planning around. Here are six useful moon-viewing options in the area, each suited to a different kind of visit.

1

Shoreline Aquatic Park

A waterfront park wrapping around Rainbow Harbor in downtown Long Beach, with a boardwalk, a hilltop replica lighthouse, two fishing piers, and views of the Queen Mary across the water. Free to visit. Check current City of Long Beach signage for posted hours. Address: Aquarium Way.

2

HALO Rooftop Bar

A rooftop lounge atop the Fairmont Breakers hotel, with panoramic views stretching from downtown LA to Catalina Island. Hours: Mon–Thu 5–10 p.m., Fri 5–11 p.m., Sat 2–11 p.m., Sun 12–10 p.m., with Friday and Saturday "Skyline Sessions" DJ sets. Address: 210 E Ocean Blvd.

3

Bluff Park

A bluff-top park running along Ocean Boulevard above the beach, with footpaths, benches, telescopes already installed for looking out over the water, and the Lone Sailor Memorial. Free to visit. Check current City of Long Beach signage for posted hours. Address: Ocean Blvd, 20th to 36th Pl.

4

Hilltop Park (Signal Hill)

An elevated park atop Signal Hill, just north of Long Beach, with panoramic views over the city, the harbor, and — on clear days — Catalina Island. Free to visit. The City lists park hours as 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily. Address: 2351 Dawson Ave, Signal Hill.

5

El Dorado East Regional Park

A large regional park with several small lakes, nature trails, and an archery range on the city's east side. A vehicle entrance fee applies. Current City information lists park hours as 7 a.m.–8 p.m., with visitors required to leave by closing — check current signage, since seasonal adjustments can apply. This is a daytime or golden-hour visit rather than a night one. Address: 7550 E Spring St.

6

Naples Island

A residential island built around a network of canals in southeast Long Beach, walkable via public sidewalks and small footbridges, with gondola rides available on the water and calm canal reflections after dark. Free, as ordinary public streets and sidewalks — please keep noise down, since this is a quiet residential neighborhood. Address: canals off 2nd St & Belmont Shore area.

◉ Best Times for Moon Photography

🌕 Full Moon ±1 day — near the moon's brightest appearance, though not necessarily the most photogenic phase for lunar detail
🌔 Days before full — the moon generally rises later each evening as full approaches, eventually rising around sunset at full moon; the exact timing varies with the date, season, and observing location
🧭 Landmark alignments — the moon's rising azimuth changes with the date and your observing location, so check both rather than assuming a fixed direction

📷 Quick Photography Tips

🎯A sturdy tripod can be useful along the bluffs and harbor, but check current rules before setting one up at HALO
📷Shoot RAW and expose for the moon when you want lunar surface detail — the moon can be far brighter than the surrounding night sky and city scene
📏Looney 11 rule — a useful starting point: f/11, ISO 100, 1/100s for a full moon, then adjust from your histogram
🌕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 size. A photo doesn't automatically preserve that apparent size; framing a large moon next to a landmark comes down mostly to your shooting distance and focal length choice
🌫️Check for marine layer along with the forecast — low coastal clouds and haze are common along the Southern California coast, especially during late spring and early summer, and can hide or blur a low moon even when inland skies are clear
🕐 Timezone

Long Beach runs on Pacific Time — PST (UTC−8) in winter and PDT (UTC−7) in summer, since California 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 Long Beach — a rooftop view stretching to Catalina Island, telescopes already set up on the Bluff Park bluffs, and canal reflections out on Naples Island, all sharing the same lunar glow.

The moon phase today in Long Beach 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

Bluff Park is a genuinely public, well-used stretch of coastline — joggers, dog walkers, and a daily outdoor yoga class share the bluff with visitors just there for the view. The telescopes installed along the path are a nice, if incidental, nod to the same audience this page is written for.

HALO is a hotel rooftop lounge first, with its own dress expectations and hours that shift by day of the week. From 210 E Ocean Blvd, the view is genuinely wide — the operator's own description places the Hollywood Hills and Catalina Island in the same panorama, weather permitting.

El Dorado East Regional Park is the one location on this list built around still water rather than the ocean or harbor. Visitors are required to leave by the posted closing time, so unlike the bluffs and harbor parks, this is a daytime or golden-hour destination rather than one for a late moonrise.

"El Dorado East Regional Park is the one location on this list built around still water rather than the ocean or harbor — visitors are required to leave by the posted closing time, so it's a daytime or golden-hour destination rather than one for a late moonrise."

✓ Your Long Beach Moon Chase Checklist

Before You Go

  • Check the moon's rise time and azimuth for your date and observing location — alignment with the harbor, the bluffs, or Catalina Island depends on both
  • Check both the moon's rise time and each site's current hours — El Dorado East Regional Park requires visitors to leave by its posted closing time, while Bluff Park and Shoreline Aquatic Park's exact hours are best confirmed on-site
  • Verify Site Access: HALO has its own dress code and hours that vary by day — check current details before planning a visit
  • Use PhotoPills or Stellarium to check whether the moon will align with a specific landmark on your date
  • Check for marine layer in the coastal forecast, particularly in late spring and early summer
  • Bring cash or a card for El Dorado East Regional Park's vehicle entrance fee

What to Bring

  • A telephoto lens — 200mm or longer can be useful when you want a relatively large moon beside a distant landmark, depending on your shooting distance
  • A light jacket — coastal wind and marine air can make Bluff Park and Shoreline Aquatic Park cooler after dark than the daytime temperature suggests
  • A remote shutter release or a 2-second timer to avoid shake on tripod shots, where tripods are permitted
  • A California sport-fishing license if you plan to fish at El Dorado's inland lakes; a license is generally not required when fishing from a qualifying public ocean pier such as Shoreline Aquatic Park's public fishing piers, though other fishing regulations still apply
  • A backup viewing location in case your first choice is crowded, closed, or hosting an event

On the Night

  • Arrive at least 30–45 minutes early when photographing from a rooftop or during a scheduled event
  • Focus manually on the moon's edge — harbor lighting and city glow can confuse autofocus at dusk
  • Bracket your exposures — one for the bright lunar disc, one for the darker ocean, harbor, or canal below
  • If the moon looks soft or hazy right at moonrise, consider waiting until it climbs higher above the horizon; the longer path through the atmosphere at low altitude increases scattering and distortion
  • At Hilltop Park, El Dorado East Regional Park, or Naples Island, plan around each site's current posted hours and keep noise down in residential areas
The moon over Long Beach moves between two very different registers — the lit-up bluffs, rooftops, and harbor of the coast, and the quiet canals and lake trails spread across the city's neighborhoods. Use the tools on this page, pick your vantage point, and catch a Long Beach moonrise for yourself.

? Long Beach Moon Phase — Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the moon phase today in Long Beach?

The moon phase today in Long Beach is a New Moon with 0% illumination. The next full moon is in 16 days, on Oct 25. Moonrise is at 7:03 AM and moonset at 6:23 PM.

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

Bluff Park is the standout spot, a bluff-top park along Ocean Boulevard with footpaths, benches, and telescopes already installed for looking out over the water. Shoreline Aquatic Park wraps around Rainbow Harbor with views of the Queen Mary, Hilltop Park atop Signal Hill gives a panoramic view over the city, harbor, and Catalina Island on clear days, and HALO Rooftop Bar, El Dorado East Regional Park, or Naples Island add further rooftop, lakeside, or canal-reflection alternatives.

Q. Do these viewing spots stay open after dark?

It varies — Hilltop Park is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., while El Dorado East Regional Park closes at 8 p.m. and requires visitors to leave by closing, making it a daytime or golden-hour destination rather than a night one. HALO Rooftop Bar's hours shift by day of the week, running as late as 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and Naples Island's canals are ordinary public streets with no set hours, though it's a quiet residential neighborhood worth keeping noise down for.

Q. Does Long Beach observe daylight saving time?

Yes. Long Beach runs on Pacific Time — PST (UTC−8) in winter and PDT (UTC−7) in summer, since California observes daylight saving time on the standard U.S. schedule.

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

The moon's rise time and direction shift with the date and your observing location rather than following a fixed seasonal pattern, so alignment with the harbor or a bluff-top view depends on the specific night. It's worth checking sky conditions along with the forecast, since coastal marine layer — the low clouds and haze common along the Southern California coast, especially in late spring and early summer — can soften or hide a low moon even on an otherwise clear-sounding night.

Q. Does this page work for cities besides Long Beach?

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