Moon Phase Today Tampa

Moon Phase Today Tampa: New Moon

On Friday, October 9, 2026, the moon in Tampa 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
6:31 AM
↑ Highest
—
☾ Moonset
6:34 PM

moon-phase-today-tampa-skyline

☽ Best Places to View the Moon in Tampa, FL

Tampa sits on Hillsborough Bay, part of the larger Tampa Bay, so most of its best moon-viewing spots come down to a stretch of waterfront: the world-famous Bayshore Boulevard, the downtown Riverwalk, and a scatter of bay-facing parks on the city's southern peninsulas. A couple of the area's nature parks have storm-related closures on specific features right now, which is worth knowing before you plan around them. 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 stretch of shoreline you're planning around. Here are six useful moon-viewing options in the area, each suited to a different kind of visit.

1

Bayshore Boulevard

A 4.5-mile continuous sidewalk along Hillsborough Bay, widely cited as one of the longest continuous sidewalks in the country, with views of downtown Tampa's skyline across the water. Free, and a public sidewalk rather than a gated park, so there's no park-style closing time. Address: runs along Bayshore Blvd from Columbus Statue Park to Gandy Blvd.

2

Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park

An 8-acre downtown park along the Hillsborough River, part of the Tampa Riverwalk, with panoramic views of the city skyline and frequent festivals and events on its Great Lawn. Free to visit. Open 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; check current event schedules, since large events can affect access. Address: 600 N Ashley Dr.

3

Beacon Rooftop Lounge

Tampa's highest public rooftop cocktail bar and dining destination, on the 27th floor of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, with panoramic views of the skyline and Hillsborough Bay. Hours vary by day; current listings show evening service daily (roughly 5 p.m.–midnight, later Friday and Saturday), with Saturday also offering a daytime 11 a.m.–2 p.m. period. Check current hours before visiting. Address: 510 Water St.

4

Ballast Point Park

A bayfront park on South Tampa's Ballast Point peninsula, with sunrise-over-the-bay and downtown-skyline views. The park's 600-foot fishing pier has been closed since spring 2025 due to hurricane damage and has not reopened; the rest of the park is open 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Address: 5300 Interbay Blvd.

5

Picnic Island Park

A bayfront beach park on a peninsula in South Tampa, with a sandy shoreline, a fishing pier, and sunset views that can take in the St. Petersburg skyline across the bay on clear days. Free to visit. Park hours are sunrise to sunset; the boat ramp is open 24 hours. Address: 7409 Picnic Island Blvd.

6

Lettuce Lake Park

A 240-acre county park along the Hillsborough River's floodplain forest, with a boardwalk and paved exercise trail. As of this writing, the observation tower and part of the boardwalk are closed for reconstruction — check current status before planning a visit around them. $2 per vehicle; hours run roughly 8 a.m.–6 p.m. in fall/winter and 8 a.m.–7 p.m. in spring/summer. Address: 6920 E Fletcher Ave.

◉ 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 bayfront, but check current rules before setting one up at the Beacon rooftop
📷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 the lightning forecast, not just rain — the Tampa Bay area is one of the most lightning-prone regions in the country, especially on summer afternoons, and hurricane season runs June through November
🕐 Timezone

Tampa runs on Eastern Time — EST (UTC−5) in winter and EDT (UTC−4) in summer, since Florida 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 Tampa — a walk along the world's longest continuous sidewalk, a rooftop view 27 floors above Water Street, and a quiet bayfront beach out on the peninsula, all sharing the same lunar glow.

The moon phase today in Tampa 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

Bayshore Boulevard draws a steady stream of walkers, runners, and cyclists at almost any hour, with the seawall balustrade separating the sidewalk from Hillsborough Bay for its full 4.5 miles. Because it's a public sidewalk rather than a gated park, there's no closing time to plan around here.

Beacon is a hotel rooftop lounge first, with its own dress expectations, reservation system, and set hours — a different kind of visit from any of the parks on this list. From the 27th floor, the skyline and bay stretch out in most directions with little to block the view.

Ballast Point Park's pier closure is worth planning around specifically: the pier was the park's signature vantage point over the bay, and it remains closed as of this writing. The rest of the park, including the shoreline and walking paths, is still open on its regular schedule.

"Ballast Point Park's pier closure is worth planning around specifically — the pier was the park's signature vantage point over the bay, and it remains closed as of this writing."

✓ Your Tampa Moon Chase Checklist

Before You Go

  • Check the moon's rise time and azimuth for your date and observing location — alignment with the skyline, the bay, or a specific landmark depends on both
  • Check both the moon's rise time and each site's current hours — Ballast Point Park's pier and Lettuce Lake Park's observation tower currently have closures worth confirming before you go
  • Verify Site Access: Beacon has its own dress code, reservation system, and hours that vary by day (including a separate Saturday daytime period) — 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 the lightning and radar forecast, particularly on summer afternoons, and track tropical systems from June through November
  • Bring cash for Lettuce Lake Park's per-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
  • Insect repellent — Lettuce Lake Park's boardwalk and marshes draw mosquitoes, especially at dusk in warmer months
  • A remote shutter release or a 2-second timer to avoid shake on tripod shots, where tripods are permitted
  • If you plan to fish, check the current Florida fishing-license requirements for the specific pier — a licensed saltwater fishing pier may cover anglers fishing from it
  • 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 — waterfront lighting and city glow can confuse autofocus at dusk
  • Bracket your exposures — one for the bright lunar disc, one for the darker bay or river 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 Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Ballast Point Park, Picnic Island Park, or Lettuce Lake Park, plan around each site's current posted hours rather than assuming late-night access
The moon over Tampa moves between two very different registers — the lit-up bayfront promenades and rooftops of the city, and the quieter beaches and river floodplain spread across its edges. Use the tools on this page, pick your vantage point, and catch a Tampa moonrise for yourself.

? Tampa Moon Phase — Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the moon phase today in Tampa?

The moon phase today in Tampa is a New Moon with 0% illumination. The next full moon is in 17 days, on Oct 26. Moonrise is at 6:31 AM and moonset at 6:34 PM.

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

Bayshore Boulevard is the easiest option, a 4.5-mile continuous sidewalk along Hillsborough Bay widely cited as one of the longest in the country, with downtown Tampa's skyline across the water. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park gives a downtown Riverwalk view, Beacon Rooftop Lounge offers Tampa's highest public rooftop 27 floors above Water Street, and Ballast Point Park, Picnic Island Park, or Lettuce Lake Park add further bayfront, beach, or river-floodplain alternatives.

Q. Do these viewing spots stay open after dark?

It varies — Bayshore Boulevard is a public sidewalk with no closing time, and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park runs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Ballast Point Park is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., though its 600-foot fishing pier has been closed since spring 2025 for hurricane damage, Picnic Island Park runs sunrise to sunset, and Lettuce Lake Park keeps seasonal hours with its observation tower and part of the boardwalk currently closed for reconstruction. Beacon Rooftop Lounge's hours vary by day, with evening service roughly 5 p.m. to midnight.

Q. Does Tampa observe daylight saving time?

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

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

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 skyline or the bay depends on the specific night. Whatever the date, it's worth checking the lightning and radar forecast, particularly on summer afternoons, and tracking tropical systems from June through November.

Q. Does this page work for cities besides Tampa?

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