What do Moon altitudes of 10°, 30° and 60° look like?
Use azimuth to choose a direction and altitude to raise your gaze. Learn how a nearby building can block a Moon above the calculated horizon.
Two coordinates, two actions
Azimuth turns you around on the ground: 0° is true north, 90° east, 180° south and 270° west. An azimuth of 135° means southeast. Altitude raises your gaze above the horizon: 0° is level with the horizon and 90° is directly overhead. Matching direction while looking too low can still miss the Moon.
Estimate the height
| Altitude | Where to look | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 10° | Low, just above the horizon | Buildings, ridges and haze |
| 30° | One third of the way to overhead | Nearby tall buildings |
| 60° | High in the sky | Direction and cloud |
A fist at arm’s length is roughly 10° wide. Hand size and arm length vary: this is an estimate, not a calibrated instrument.
A calculated obstruction example
A roof 20m above your eye level and 100m away subtends arctan(20/100), or about 11.3°. A Moon at 8° could be blocked in that direction, while one at 15° could clear it. This is a hypothetical example, not an observation report. Moon Where does not measure building heights.
Use the numbers outside
- Confirm time and location.
- If altitude is negative, check moonrise.
- Face the azimuth and raise your gaze.
- Check the skyline and cloud.
Purpose planner · Moon classroom · Observing places
Sources and review
Moon Where operator · Reviewed: 2026-10-07. AI assisted drafting; explanation reviewed against cited sources and application code. Hypothetical examples are identified.