# Moonlight

Also called: moon interference, moon-free.

Sunlight reflected by the Moon, which brightens the whole sky and hides faint deep-sky objects.

A bright Moon raises the sky background like light pollution does, wherever it is in the sky — strongest near it. Around full Moon, only bright clusters, doubles, planets and the Moon itself are worth chasing. Deep-sky observers plan around the Moon: the days around new Moon, or the hours before moonrise or after moonset.

**In AstroPilot:** Tonight shows the moon-free dark hours; every object's rating accounts for the Moon's brightness and distance from it.

**Related:** [The Moon](https://astropilot.space/glossary/the-moon.md), [Light pollution](https://astropilot.space/glossary/light-pollution.md), [Best window](https://astropilot.space/glossary/best-window.md)

From the AstroPilot astronomy glossary: https://astropilot.space/glossary/moonlight