Moon Phase Today Pittsburgh

Moon Phase Today Pittsburgh: New Moon

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

Illumination
0%
Moon Age
29.0d
Next Full Moon
Oct 26
Distance
--
☽ Moonrise
6:25 AM
↑ Highest
—
☾ Moonset
6:15 PM

moon-phase-today-pittsburg-live

☽ Best Places to View the Moon in Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh's hills are the whole story here — the city sits at the confluence of three rivers, ringed by steep bluffs that put entire neighborhoods on a natural balcony over downtown's "Golden Triangle." That gives Pittsburgh more genuine elevated overlooks than most cities its size. Worth knowing up front: several of the best spots below are state or city parks with sunrise-to-sunset or dusk closing times, so they're better suited to an early-evening moon than one rising well after dark — check each entry's hours against your date. Here are six of the city's strongest viewpoints.

1

Mount Washington / Grandview Avenue

The classic Pittsburgh skyline shot — a series of public overlooks along Grandview Avenue, high above the Monongahela River, with sweeping views across downtown and the three-river confluence. These are sidewalk overlooks along a public street rather than a gated park, so there's no formal closing time, though it's a residential neighborhood — be mindful of noise and parking late at night. Nearest coordinates: roughly 40.4381, -80.0189.

2

West End Overlook

A four-acre city park in the Elliott neighborhood, sitting just over 700 feet above the Ohio River with a head-on view of the confluence and downtown skyline — many consider it Pittsburgh's most complete single-frame skyline shot. Per the City of Pittsburgh, hours run sunrise to 11 p.m., making this one of the better evening options on this list. Location: Rue Grande Vue & Marlow Streets; closest address 921 Rue Grande St.

3

Duquesne Incline

A restored 1877 funicular that climbs Mount Washington, with an observation deck at the upper station giving a panoramic view of downtown. Per the operator's current site, it runs every day of the year, 6:30 a.m.–12:30 a.m. — one of the latest-open spots on this list. Fares are cash or Port Authority Connect Card, no advance tickets or reservations. Address: 1197 W Carson St (lower station); 1220 Grandview Ave (upper station).

4

Level 7 Rooftop (AC Hotel, Downtown)

A 7th-floor rooftop bar at the AC Hotel by Marriott, overlooking the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the Allegheny River, and downtown's bridges. Current hours: Monday–Thursday and Sunday 5–11:30 p.m., Friday–Saturday 5 p.m.–midnight — check current status, since restaurant hours can shift for private events. Address: 1 Grant St.

5

Point State Park

The 36-acre state park at the literal tip of the Golden Triangle, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio — home to the recently renovated 150-foot fountain. The park is open sunrise to sunset, with day-use areas closing at dusk, so this is a daytime or early-dusk spot rather than one for an after-dark moonrise. Address: 601 Commonwealth Pl.

6

Schenley Park

At 456 acres, Pittsburgh's second-largest park, bordering the Carnegie Mellon and Pitt campuses, with elevated viewpoints that can frame downtown and the Cathedral of Learning. The park grounds are generally accessible, though the Visitor Center and café keep separate, shorter hours — check current signage for a specific overlook, since this isn't guaranteed to be available late at night. Address (Visitor Center): 101 Panther Hollow Rd.

◉ Best Times for Moon Photography

🌕 Full Moon ±1 day — brightest phase, though not necessarily the most photogenic for every landmark shot
🌔 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 doesn't rise at the same compass point each night; its rising azimuth changes throughout its roughly 27.3-day sidereal orbit, so check the exact date and viewpoint rather than assuming a fixed direction

📷 Quick Photography Tips

🎯Use a sturdy tripod — the Mount Washington overlooks and West End Overlook allow them, but check with staff at the Duquesne Incline's observation deck or Level 7's rooftop, where space can be tight
📷Shoot RAW and expose for the moon — it's much brighter than the surrounding skyline or river lighting
📏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 normal shot at the same focal length won't reproduce that illusion; the dramatic huge-moon photos you've seen are typically made with long telephoto lenses, which can make the moon appear much larger relative to a distant foreground subject when shot from far enough away
🌫️Check the forecast for river-valley haze and humidity, especially in summer — Pittsburgh's three rivers can add moisture to the air that softens the moon's edge near the horizon
🕐 Timezone

Pittsburgh runs on Eastern Time — EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) in summer, since Pennsylvania 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 Pittsburgh — a hilltop skyline overlook, a century-old funicular, and the confluence of three rivers all sharing the same lunar glow.

The moon phase today in Pittsburgh 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

At sunset, the Grandview Avenue overlooks can become busy — tripods along the railing, restaurant patios filling in behind them — and the moon, when it's up, has to share the frame with a skyline that's already doing a lot of the work. It's a view that earns its reputation.

Down at the Duquesne Incline, the ride itself becomes part of the experience — a climb in a 19th-century cable car, with the city dropping away below. The observation deck at the top tends to be quieter than the crowds waiting for the incline car itself, and it's one of the few spots on this list open past midnight.

At Point State Park, the mood shifts once the day-use areas close for the night at dusk — this is really a golden-hour and dusk destination, with the last of the light catching the confluence before closing. It rewards an early arrival rather than a late one.

"Down at the Duquesne Incline, the ride itself becomes part of the experience — a climb in a 19th-century cable car, with the city dropping away below."

✓ Your Pittsburgh Moon Chase Checklist

Before You Go

  • Check the moonrise time and rise azimuth for your date — alignment with the Golden Triangle skyline depends on the date, not just the location
  • Check both the moon's rise time and the venue's hours — Point State Park closes its day-use areas at dusk, while West End Overlook (sunrise–11 p.m.) and the Duquesne Incline (6:30 a.m.–12:30 a.m.) stay open well into the evening
  • Verify Site Access: Level 7's rooftop keeps restaurant hours that can shift for private events, and Schenley Park's overlook areas aren't guaranteed to be open late — check current status before heading out for either
  • Use PhotoPills or Stellarium to check whether the moon will align with a specific landmark on your date
  • Check the forecast for river-valley haze and humidity, especially in summer
  • Confirm whether your chosen venue allows tripods, particularly at the Incline's observation deck or a rooftop bar where space is limited

What to Bring

  • A telephoto lens — 200mm or longer helps compress the moon behind downtown's towers or a bridge from a distance
  • Cash or a Port Authority Connect Card for the Duquesne Incline — no credit cards, advance tickets, or reservations
  • A remote shutter release or a 2-second timer to avoid shake on tripod shots
  • A jacket — the hilltop overlooks on Mount Washington and the West End can be windier and cooler than downtown
  • A small flashlight or headlamp for evening walks on permitted routes, especially where lighting is limited

On the Night

  • Arrive at your viewpoint at least 30–45 minutes early, especially at the Mount Washington overlooks around full moons and weekend evenings
  • Focus manually on the moon's edge — skyline lighting and bridge illumination can confuse autofocus at dusk
  • Bracket your exposures — one for the bright lunar disc, one for the darker rivers or skyline 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 Point State Park, plan around the dusk closing of its day-use areas — this one favors an early evening moon, not a late one
The moon over Pittsburgh moves between two very different stages — the postcard drama of its hilltop overlooks, and the quieter, working-river rhythm of the confluence itself. Use the tools on this page, pick your vantage point, and catch a Pittsburgh moonrise for yourself.

? Pittsburgh Moon Phase — Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the moon phase today in Pittsburgh?

The moon phase today in Pittsburgh is a New Moon with 0% illumination. The next full moon is in 17 days, on Oct 26. Moonrise is at 6:25 AM and moonset at 6:15 PM.

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

Mount Washington's Grandview Avenue overlooks are the classic Pittsburgh skyline shot, high above the Monongahela River with sweeping views across the three-river confluence. West End Overlook sits over 700 feet above the Ohio River for what many consider the most complete single-frame skyline shot, the Duquesne Incline offers a restored 1877 funicular with an observation deck at the top, and Level 7 Rooftop, Point State Park, or Schenley Park add further downtown-rooftop, confluence-fountain, or campus-adjacent alternatives.

Q. Do these viewing spots stay open after dark?

It varies — the Grandview Avenue overlooks are public sidewalks with no formal closing time, though it's a residential neighborhood worth being mindful of late at night. West End Overlook runs sunrise to 11 p.m., and the Duquesne Incline is open 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily, one of the latest-open spots on this list. Point State Park's day-use areas close at dusk, making it strictly a daytime or early-dusk destination, and Level 7 Rooftop's hours vary by day, running latest Friday and Saturday.

Q. Does Pittsburgh observe daylight saving time?

Yes. Pittsburgh runs on Eastern Time — EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) in summer, since Pennsylvania observes daylight saving time on the standard U.S. schedule.

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

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 confluence or a specific overlook depends on the exact night. Pittsburgh's hills give it more genuine elevated overlooks than most cities its size, but several of the best spots keep sunrise-to-sunset or dusk closing times, making them better suited to an early-evening moon than one rising well after dark.

Q. Does this page work for cities besides Pittsburgh?

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