Moon Phase Today New Orleans

Moon Phase Today New Orleans: New Moon

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the moon in New Orleans 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
6:02 AM
↑ Highest
—
☾ Moonset
6:04 PM

moon-phase-today-new-orleans-skyline

☽ Best Places to View the Moon in New Orleans, LA

New Orleans is flat and built around the great bend of the Mississippi River, so nearly every good viewpoint here is defined by water rather than elevation — and fittingly, the city's most famous riverfront walkway is literally named after a mayor nicknamed "Moon." 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. A few of the spots below keep specific gate hours or scheduled transit, so check each entry's current status against your date. Here are six New Orleans locations that offer different ways to experience or photograph the moon.

1

Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park & The Moonwalk

A major 2026 expansion now gives continuous public riverfront access for nearly 2¼ miles, from Spanish Plaza down through the original Woldenberg Park to Crescent Park — one of the longest contiguous riverfront parks in the country, and it includes the historic Moonwalk promenade, named for Mayor Maurice "Moon" Landrieu. Posted hours are 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 6 a.m.–midnight Friday–Saturday. Address (Woldenberg): 1 Canal St.

2

Crescent Park

A 1.4-mile, 20-acre linear park along the river in the Bywater, reached via the arched pedestrian bridge locals call the "Rusty Rainbow," with some of the city's best skyline views back toward downtown. Check the park's current posted hours before visiting; access is not necessarily available throughout the night. Address: 2300 N Peters St.

3

Jackson Square & Washington Artillery Park

The historic heart of the French Quarter, with St. Louis Cathedral as a backdrop and the elevated terrace of Washington Artillery Park across Decatur Street giving a clear view over the square toward the river. Jackson Square itself has posted hours of 8 a.m.–6 p.m. in winter and 8 a.m.–7 p.m. during daylight saving time — don't assume the square or its fenced interior is available after hours. The surrounding French Quarter streets and the Washington Artillery Park terrace remain public space outside those hours. Centered at Decatur & St. Peter streets.

4

City Park (Big Lake)

One of New Orleans' largest urban parks (commonly cited at roughly 1,200 acres, with figures varying by source), near the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, with ancient live oaks and a 25-acre lake area known as Big Lake, circled by the three-quarter-mile Zemurray Multi-Use Trail. General park grounds are reported open from about 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, with the Big Lake Path specifically sunrise to sunset — check current hours, since some attractions inside the park keep their own separate schedules. Free entry. Near Lelong Ave & Esplanade Ave.

5

Algiers Point (via the Canal Street Ferry)

A historic, village-like neighborhood on the west bank, reachable by the Canal Street–Algiers Point ferry, with a levee walk giving one of the city's best views back across the river at the downtown skyline. The ferry's schedule has changed repeatedly in recent years, including a late-night pilot service that was later discontinued — check NORTA's current timetable before planning a crossing, especially the last return trip. The current standard one-way pedestrian fare is $2.

6

Lakeshore Drive (Lake Pontchartrain)

A long stretch of seawall and public roadway along Lake Pontchartrain on the city's north side, with a genuinely open water horizon rare elsewhere in New Orleans. This is public shoreline and street rather than a single gated park with posted hours, though specific access details weren't independently confirmed for this listing — use normal caution and check conditions locally rather than assuming unrestricted access at all hours. Near Lakeshore Dr & Elysian Fields Ave.

◉ 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 — river breezes can be stronger right at the water's edge
📷Shoot RAW and expose for the moon — it's much brighter than the surrounding river, skyline, or lake 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 Gulf South humidity, haze, and cloud cover — these conditions can reduce contrast and make a low moon appear softer or more distorted near the horizon
🕐 Timezone

New Orleans runs on Central Time — CST (UTC−6) in winter and CDT (UTC−5) in summer, since Louisiana 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 New Orleans — a promenade literally named for the moon, a historic square, and a river crossing by ferry all sharing the same lunar glow.

The moon phase today in New Orleans 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

Evenings along the riverfront can include street musicians, riverboats making their turns on the river, and a steady flow of activity between the French Quarter and the new Goldring Woldenberg park segments. The river itself does much of the work here — massive cargo ships making the turn that gives the city its "Crescent City" nickname, with the moon just one more thing sharing the view.

At Crescent Park, the mood can feel quieter and more local, with joggers and Bywater and Marigny residents mixing with visitors. Since access isn't guaranteed through the night, this is best treated as a golden-hour and early-evening spot rather than a late one.

On the ferry to Algiers Point, the experience is different from anything static on this list — a few minutes on the water, the skyline receding and then, from the other side, opening back up across the river. Locals use this route as an everyday commute, so you may share the crossing with someone heading home as much as with another visitor out for the view.

"On the ferry to Algiers Point, the skyline recedes and then, from the other side, opens back up across the river — locals use this route as an everyday commute, so you may share the crossing with someone heading home as much as with another visitor out for the view."

✓ Your New Orleans 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 — Crescent Park's posted hours don't guarantee overnight access, Jackson Square closes at 6 or 7 p.m. depending on the season, and the new Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park closes at 10 p.m. (Sun–Thu) or midnight (Fri–Sat)
  • Verify Site Access: the Algiers ferry's schedule has changed repeatedly in recent years — check NORTA's current timetable before planning a crossing, especially the last return trip
  • Use PhotoPills or Stellarium to check whether the moon will align with a specific landmark on your date
  • Check the forecast for humidity and haze, which affect river and lake views here more consistently than in drier climates
  • 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 skyline or a riverboat
  • A lens cloth — Gulf South humidity can fog a lens quickly, especially near the river or lake
  • A remote shutter release or a 2-second timer to avoid shake on tripod shots
  • Exact change or a transit card for the Algiers ferry ($2 pedestrian fare)
  • Insect repellent, especially near City Park's lake and wetland areas in warmer months

On the Night

  • As a general recommendation, arrive at your viewpoint at least 30–45 minutes early, especially along the Moonwalk on weekend evenings
  • Focus manually on the moon's edge — riverboat lighting and streetlamps can confuse autofocus at dusk
  • Bracket your exposures — one for the bright lunar disc, one for the darker river, skyline, or lake 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
  • At Crescent Park, check the posted closing time before you go and plan to be back through the gate before it — don't count on overnight access
The moon over New Orleans moves between two very different stages — the lively, musical energy of the riverfront promenades, and the quieter, working rhythm of a river crossing by ferry. Use the tools on this page, pick your vantage point, and catch a New Orleans moonrise for yourself.

? New Orleans Moon Phase — Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the moon phase today in New Orleans?

The moon phase today in New Orleans is a New Moon with 0% illumination. The next full moon is in 17 days, on Oct 25. Moonrise is at 6:02 AM and moonset at 6:04 PM.

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

Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park and its historic Moonwalk promenade are the fitting choice, a nearly 2¼-mile stretch of continuous riverfront named for Mayor Maurice "Moon" Landrieu. Crescent Park gives some of the city's best skyline views back toward downtown, Jackson Square and Washington Artillery Park offer a French Quarter view with St. Louis Cathedral as a backdrop, and City Park's Big Lake, Algiers Point via the Canal Street ferry, or Lakeshore Drive on Lake Pontchartrain add further lakeside, river-crossing, or open-water alternatives.

Q. Do these viewing spots stay open after dark?

It varies — Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park's Moonwalk posts hours of 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m.–midnight Friday and Saturday, while Crescent Park's access isn't guaranteed through the night, so it's best treated as a golden-hour spot. Jackson Square's fenced interior closes at 6 or 7 p.m. depending on daylight saving time, though the surrounding French Quarter streets and the Washington Artillery Park terrace remain public space, and City Park's grounds run roughly from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Q. Does New Orleans observe daylight saving time?

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

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

The date and your observing location together determine the moon's rise time and direction, so alignment with the river or the skyline depends on the exact night rather than the season. Since New Orleans is flat and built around the great bend of the Mississippi, nearly every good viewpoint here is defined by water rather than elevation, which is worth keeping in mind when scouting a spot.

Q. Does this page work for cities besides New Orleans?

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