Moonrise, Moonset, and Moon Phase in Wichita

Today’s snapshot for Wichita, Kansas

Current time: Nov 1, 2026 at 4:59:17 am local time. The Moon is in the Waning Gibbous phase, about 61.9% illuminated, currently positioned at 304.05° azimuth (northwest). Its altitude above the horizon is about -3.17°, meaning it is just below the horizon in the northwest direction for observers in Wichita right now. The Moon is roughly 369,835 km from Earth, and its angular diameter is about 32.4 arcminutes. The next new moon is on Nov 9, 2026 at 01:02, and the next full moon occurs on Nov 24, 2026 at 08:53. The next moonrise is tonight at 11:47 PM, and there is no scheduled moonset listed for today beyond the nightly window shown for this date.

Today’s lunar snapshot also notes that the Moon’s path through the sky will cross the horizon in the northwest, reappearing after sunset as it climbs higher in the sky in the hours after nightfall. Times and positions assume local Wichita time and account for atmospheric refraction and the Gregorian calendar.

Current Moon Phase and What It Means for Viewing

The Moon is Waning Gibbous and is 61.9% illuminated today. This phase means a fairly bright disc remains after the full Moon has passed, which can affect visibility for faint deep-sky objects but still provides strong, dramatic lighting for lunar photography and long-exposure captures shortly after astronomical twilight ends.

For planning, note that illumination changes throughout the day; the exact percentage depends on the moment you observe. The Moon’s brightness matters most for photography early in the evening or late at night, when stray light can impact exposure settings and the contrast with stars and planets.

Twilight, Night, and Dark-Sky Windows

Evening astronomical twilight and other lighting phases help determine when the sky becomes dark enough for observing faint celestial objects. The evening astronomical twilight window is from 6:28 pm to 6:59 pm, with civil twilight ending at 5:57 pm and nautical twilight beginning just after civil twilight ends. The period labeled as “Night” runs from about 6:59 pm until around 11:59 pm, when the sky remains dark enough for most night-sky observations.

The daylight schedule is informative for planning solar-facing activities, while the dark-sky window indicates when you’ll have the best opportunity to capture stars or planets without excessive moonlight washing out the fainter objects.

Moonrise, Moonset, and Illumination: November 2026 (Wichita)

Key lunar milestones this month include the Third Quarter on November 1 at 2:28 pm, the New Moon on November 9 at 1:02 am, First Quarter on November 17 at 5:47 am, and the Full Moon on November 24 at 8:53 am. Illumination figures change day by day; for November 1, illumination is approximately 61.9% at the snapshot time, but a separate figure of about 54% is listed in some tables depending on source and moment of observation. Times may vary by a few minutes across standard sources.

Photographers and observers should note that moonrise may occur around 50 minutes later each day during the lunar cycle. On November 1, the Moon’s rise is at 11:58 pm and it sets around 1:34 pm the following day locally in Wichita. On November 9 (New Moon), the Moon rises around 7:35 am and sets around 5:18 pm, meaning the night sky remains relatively moonless for most of the day except for the thin crescent just before dawn on subsequent days. The Full Moon on November 24 rises around 5:03 pm and sets around 7:33 am the following morning, with the Moon not passing the meridian on that day in this view. These times account for atmospheric refraction and local calendar conventions used in primary ephemerides.

To help with planning, here are some representative data points for November 1–9 in Wichita. All times are local. On November 1, Third Quarter is marked at 2:28 pm; Moonrise is at 11:58 pm and Moonset at 1:34 pm the next day, with the Moon at about 68° heading and roughly 54% illumination around the Moon snapshot time. The New Moon occurs on November 9 at 01:02, with Moonrise at 7:35 am and Moonset at 5:18 pm. The First Quarter occurs on November 17 at 5:47 am, followed by the progression toward the Full Moon on November 24.”

For those who want a concise reference, a compact calendar below summarises the main dates and times. If you’re planning a session between the new Moon and full Moon, consider the period around November 9–11 as a good window for darker skies, depending on your local weather and light pollution.

Times are local for Wichita and may vary by a few minutes across authoritative sources. A note on moonrise: the table may show a dash or a blank for certain days when the Moon does not rise on that local day or when the Moon is circumpolar (always above or always below the horizon). A single day can feature two moonrises or two moonsets due to the Moon’s orbital motion and the definition of a local day. The calendar here mirrors that nuance and is designed to be useful for planning nights with minimal moonlight.

Planets Visible in Wichita This Coming Night

The following targets are typically visible around sunset to late evening. Note that Saturn was historically listed as having “Perfect visibility” for this evening’s western sky, while Neptune is generally more challenging to observe with the naked eye. The precise rise, set, and meridian times are given in local Wichita time.

All times are local to Wichita. For more, you can check the accompanying notes on planetary visibility and how atmospheric conditions can affect eyepiece viewing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current moon phase in Wichita tonight? The Moon is waning gibbous and about 61.9% illuminated. What time does the Moon rise next in Wichita? The next moonrise is today at 11:47 PM. When is the next full Moon visible from Wichita? The next full Moon is on November 24, 2026 at 08:53. When is the next new Moon visible from Wichita? The next new Moon is on November 9, 2026 at 01:02. Where is the Moon in the sky right now? The Moon is currently at about -3.17° altitude with azimuth around 304.05° (northwest). How far away is the Moon from Wichita right now? The Moon is about 369,835 km away, a distance that is nearly the same for observers across the area since lunar distance dwarfs city-to-city differences.

Data Integrity and Updates

Times and positions come from ephemerides and standard sources; some figures may vary slightly between reputable sites due to time stamps and slight source differences. This article has been updated to reflect the corrected Saturn and Neptune set times (set times occur the following morning) and to incorporate the commonly cited quarterly lunar milestones for November. When time stamps differ across sources, times labeled as meridian transit or set times are clearly identified to help readers choose the most useful figures for planning observing sessions.