We calculate where the Moon actually is tonight — its rise, its set, how high it climbs and its phase — from your coordinates, on your device. Then we sample the whole night in ten-minute steps and score each moment on how realistically you could see the Moon then: high enough above the horizon, dark enough sky, bright enough phase, and clear enough weather.
Cloud cover and rain come from the hourly forecast for your location. The best moment of the night becomes the answer, so a night that is cloudy at ten and clear at midnight still gets a useful yes.
+Why isn't the Moon visible even though it's up?
Being above the horizon is not enough. A Moon a few degrees up is behind buildings, trees and thick atmosphere; a thin crescent close to the Sun is lost in twilight; and cloud hides all of it. This page checks for a real viewing opportunity, not just a technical one.
+What does the moon phase change about visibility?
A great deal. A full moon is unmistakable through light cloud, while a thin crescent needs a genuinely clear sky and a good view low to the horizon. A new moon cannot be seen at all.
+Where should I look for the Moon?
It depends on the time. The Moon rises in the east, crosses the sky, and sets in the west, so we give the compass direction for the best moment of tonight rather than a single fixed answer.
+Does the Moon rise at the same time every night?
No. Moonrise shifts roughly fifty minutes later each night, which is why a Moon that was easy to see after dinner one week is up long after midnight the next.