Moon Phase Today Reno

Moon Phase Today Reno: New Moon

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the moon in Reno 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
6:11 AM
↑ Highest
—
☾ Moonset
5:59 PM

full-moon-over-mountains-reno

☽ Best Places to View the Moon in Reno, NV

Reno sits in the Truckee Meadows at roughly 4,400–4,500 feet, ringed by real elevation — the Virginia Range and Peavine Peak to the north, the Sierra Nevada foothills to the west — so unlike a flat city, Reno actually has hilltop parks that put the whole valley in frame. The high-desert air is usually dry and clear, though wildfire smoke can haze the sky during parts of summer and fall. The main planning variables are the moon's rise time and azimuth, plus its altitude at the moment it lines up with the ridge, river, or skyline you want in frame. Here are six of the city's strongest viewpoints.

1

University Ridge Park

A 12.72-acre hilltop park above the University of Nevada, Reno, widely regarded as one of the best panoramic viewpoints in the city — downtown Reno and Mount Rose both spread out below. It's a small park with street and lot parking, popular at sunset, so it can draw a crowd on clear evenings. No formally posted hours were found; check current signage on arrival. Address: 990 S University Park Loop.

2

Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

A roughly 580-acre Washoe County park northwest of downtown, with open pasture, wetlands, sagebrush, and the Wilbur D. May Arboretum. It's the site of the Great Reno Balloon Race and has miles of trails with wide, unobstructed sky. Washoe County parks are generally open 8 a.m. to sunset unless otherwise posted — check signage for this specific park. Address: 1595 N Sierra St.

3

Wingfield Park (Riverwalk District)

A cluster of small island parks on the Truckee River right in downtown Reno, centered on the Wingfield Park Amphitheater and the whitewater kayak park, with restaurants and bars a short walk away. Hours run 5 a.m.–10 p.m. from May 1 through Labor Day, and 6 a.m.–7 p.m. the rest of the year — one of the more time-limited spots on this list outside summer. Address: 2 S Arlington Ave.

4

Idlewild Park

A 49-acre City of Reno park along the Truckee River just west of downtown, with duck ponds, a certified rose garden, and open lawn — a quieter, more intimate riverside option than Wingfield. General park grounds are open dawn to dusk; specific facilities like the pool and seasonal train keep their own hours. Address: 2055 Idlewild Dr.

5

Lake Tahoe AleWorX Rooftop (Downtown)

A brewery and restaurant on 4th Street with an expansive rooftop deck and full bar, looking out over downtown Reno's low-rise skyline. Hours vary by day and are subject to change — check current status before heading downtown specifically for it. Address: 324 E 4th St.

6

Peavine Peak

One of the closest real mountain trailheads to downtown Reno, with routes leading to a summit around 8,270 feet and sweeping views over the Truckee Meadows, Reno's skyline, and the surrounding ranges. This is a genuine hike, not a quick stop — plan several hours and real elevation gain, check current trail and fire-restriction conditions before heading up, and don't expect to be back down quickly after dark. Trailheads are accessible from northwest Reno off Highway 395.

◉ 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 drifts north and south over 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 — hilltop spots like University Ridge and Peavine can be windy, so weight it down or brace it
📷Shoot RAW and expose for the moon — it's much brighter than the surrounding valley lights or 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 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 compress distance and make the moon appear much larger relative to a distant foreground
🔥Check air quality before you head out — wildfire smoke can drift into the Truckee Meadows in summer and fall and haze out a low moon with little warning
🕐 Timezone

Reno runs on Pacific Time — PST (UTC−8) in winter and PDT (UTC−7) in summer, since Nevada 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 Reno — a hilltop panorama, a river winding through downtown, and a real mountain trail all sharing the same lunar glow.

The moon phase today in Reno 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 University Ridge, the small parking lot fills up fast on a clear evening, and most people are there for the sunset first — the moon, if it's up, tends to be a second act once the sky behind Mount Rose has finished its show. The wind up on the ridge can be sharp even when it's calm downtown, so a jacket helps more than you'd think.

Down at Wingfield Park, the mood is completely different — river noise from the whitewater park, restaurant patios filling up along the Riverwalk, and a moon that has to compete with string lights and building facades before it climbs high enough to stand out on its own.

Out at Idlewild, it's quieter and slower. The rose garden holds onto its scent well into the evening, the duck ponds go still, and the Truckee River keeps moving past at its own pace regardless of what's happening in the sky. It's a smaller, more contained kind of view than the hilltop parks, but a good one if you'd rather not fight for a parking spot.

"At University Ridge, most people are there for the sunset first — the moon, if it's up, tends to be a second act once the sky behind Mount Rose has finished its show."

✓ Your Reno Moon Chase Checklist

Before You Go

  • Check the moonrise time and rise azimuth for your date — alignment with Mount Rose, the Virginia Range, or downtown depends on the date, not just the location
  • Check both the moon's rise time and the venue's closing time — Wingfield Park closes as early as 7 p.m. outside summer, and Rancho San Rafael generally closes at sunset
  • Verify Site Access: Lake Tahoe AleWorX's rooftop keeps limited hours (closed Mon–Tue) — check current status before heading downtown for it specifically
  • Use PhotoPills or Stellarium to check whether the moon will align with a specific ridge or landmark on your date
  • Check air quality and wildfire smoke conditions, especially in summer and fall
  • If heading up Peavine Peak, check current trail conditions and any fire restrictions, and plan your descent well before dark

What to Bring

  • A telephoto lens — 200mm or longer helps compress the moon behind Mount Rose or the downtown skyline from a distance
  • A jacket or windbreaker — hilltop spots like University Ridge and Peavine Peak are noticeably windier and cooler than downtown
  • A remote shutter release or a 2-second timer to avoid shake on tripod shots
  • Water and sturdy footwear if you're heading up Peavine Peak — this one is a real hike, not a park stroll
  • A flashlight or headlamp for any hilltop or riverside spot after dark

On the Night

  • Arrive at your viewpoint at least 30–45 minutes early, especially at University Ridge and Wingfield Park on clear weekend evenings
  • Focus manually on the moon's edge — string lights, building floodlighting, and downtown glow can confuse autofocus at dusk
  • Bracket your exposures — one for the bright lunar disc, one for the darker valley, river, 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 time-limited parks like Wingfield or Rancho San Rafael, plan to be back at your vehicle before posted closing — don't count on staying past it
The moon over Reno moves between two very different stages — the wide-open hilltop panoramas ringing the valley, and the quieter, slower rhythm of the Truckee River winding through downtown. Use the tools on this page, pick your vantage point, and catch a Reno moonrise for yourself.

? Reno Moon Phase — Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the moon phase today in Reno?

The moon phase today in Reno is a New Moon with 0% illumination. The next full moon is in 17 days, on Oct 25. Moonrise is at 6:11 AM and moonset at 5:59 PM.

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

University Ridge Park is the standout spot, a hilltop park widely regarded as one of the best panoramic viewpoints in the city, with downtown Reno and Mount Rose spread out below. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park offers wide, unobstructed sky over 580 acres, Wingfield Park puts you right on the Truckee River in downtown's Riverwalk District, and Idlewild Park, Lake Tahoe AleWorX Rooftop, or Peavine Peak add further quiet-riverside, rooftop-brewery, or genuine-mountain-hike alternatives.

Q. Do these viewing spots stay open after dark?

It varies — no formally posted hours were found for University Ridge Park, so it's worth checking current signage on arrival, while Rancho San Rafael Regional Park is generally open 8 a.m. to sunset unless otherwise posted. Wingfield Park runs later in summer (5 a.m.–10 p.m. from May through Labor Day) but only 6 a.m.–7 p.m. the rest of the year, and Idlewild Park's general grounds are open dawn to dusk. Peavine Peak is a genuine hike requiring several hours and real elevation gain, so don't expect a quick return after dark.

Q. Does Reno observe daylight saving time?

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

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

The main planning variables are the moon's rise time and azimuth, plus its altitude at the moment it lines up with the ridge, river, or skyline you want in frame, so this depends on the specific night. Reno's high-desert air is usually dry and clear, though wildfire smoke can haze the sky during parts of summer and fall, which is worth checking the forecast for before heading up to a hilltop viewpoint.

Q. Does this page work for cities besides Reno?

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