LoupeLabMoon Phase in Los Angeles Today
Monday, May 11, 2026 · United States
Last Quarter
34% illuminated
Tonight’s Moon in Los Angeles
Best viewing at 11:00 AM facing SW · 39° above horizon
The Moon & Los Angeles
high moon altitude in summer months
Lunar Culture in Los Angeles
The Tongva people, original inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin, used lunar cycles to time acorn gathering and coastal fishing seasons. Today, LA's Griffith Observatory is one of the most visited public observatories in the world, offering free telescope viewing of the moon's surface on clear evenings. The observatory's Samuel Oschin Planetarium regularly features lunar programming.
How the Moon Affects Los Angeles
Southern California's surf culture tracks moon phases closely. King tides during perigean spring tides (when the full or new moon coincides with lunar perigee) cause notable coastal flooding along Malibu and Venice Beach. Surfers favor incoming tides around the full moon for larger swells at breaks like Rincon and Trestles.
Best Moon Viewing in Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory offers the best urban moon viewing on the West Coast. For darker skies, drive 90 minutes to Joshua Tree, where the full moon illuminates the desert landscape.
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Upcoming Lunar Events
New Moon
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Full MoonFlower Moon
Sunday, May 31, 2026
New Moon
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Full MoonStrawberry Moon
Monday, June 29, 2026
New Moon
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Full MoonBuck Moon
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Moonphase Watches & Los Angeles
Set Your Moonphase Watch in Los Angeles
To set your moonphase complication in Los Angeles: wait for the next full moon (Sunday, May 31), then advance the moonphase disc to show a full moon centered in the aperture. Set the time to 2:40 AM local time. Use our drift calculator to check if your complication has drifted since you last set it.
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