Why is the moon a white blob in my photo?

The Moon is a sunlit rock in a dark sky, far brighter than the scene around it. The iPhone exposes for the darkness, and the Moon burns out. Tap the Moon, drag the exposure slider down, and turn Night mode off.

Why does the moon look smaller in photos?

The camera records its true size: about half a degree, the width of a pea held at arm's length. Your brain enlarges it, especially near the horizon. On Pro models, the telephoto lens makes it several times larger than the main lens does.

Can I photograph the moon in daytime?

Yes, and it is often easier. In the afternoon around first quarter, and in the morning around last quarter, the Moon stands in a blue sky that the camera exposes well. The same four steps apply, with less exposure correction.

How to photograph the moon with an iPhone

Four moves make the photo: switch to the longest lens (the highest ×N button), tap the Moon, drag the exposure slider down until the craters show, and hold the iPhone still. The rest is detail, and choosing the evening.

Facts checked October 2026

The next good evenings

Dates in Universal Time. Sunset and Moon times appear once the page knows your time zone.

Monday, October 26, 2026Full moon
The Moon rises around sunset, round and bright.
Thursday, November 12, 2026Evening crescent, with earthshine
A thin crescent sets in the twilight; its dark part glows with earthshine.
Monday, November 23, 2026Evening before the full moon
The Moon rises shortly before sunset, while the landscape is still lit.
Tuesday, November 24, 2026Full moon
The Moon rises around sunset, round and bright.
Saturday, December 12, 2026Evening crescent, with earthshine
A thin crescent sets in the twilight; its dark part glows with earthshine.
Wednesday, December 23, 2026Evening before the full moon
The Moon rises shortly before sunset, while the landscape is still lit.

The four steps

Switch to the longest lens: the highest ×N button. Pinching further only enlarges a softer image.
Tap the Moon to focus on it.
Slide the sun icon next to the focus box down until the craters show. The sky goes black.
Hold still: lean on a wall or use a small tripod, and shoot with the 3 second timer (Camera Controls button, then Timer, then 3).

Six details that help

Wipe the lens first: a fingerprint puts a haze around the Moon.
Turn Night mode off (its yellow icon at the top): it turns the Moon into a white disc.
Touch and hold the Moon until AE/AF LOCK appears before you lower the exposure, so the settings stay put.
On a tripod, hold the iPhone in a phone clamp and take the shot without touching it: with the timer, or with the Camera Remote app on an Apple Watch.
Take a burst and keep the sharpest shot: swipe the Shutter button to the left. The air moves, and from one shot to the next the Moon goes soft or sharp.
Frame a roof, a tree or a hill line to give the Moon scale, best just after moonrise.

Checked against Apple's iPhone User Guide for iOS 27, October 2026.

The evenings above are computed with the algorithms of Plenilune, the lunar almanac app I make. In the app, the Rise & set widget shows moonrise for your location on the lock screen, and a free notification tells you when the full moon comes.

Download on the App Store

Questions

Why is the moon a white blob in my photo?: The Moon is a sunlit rock in a dark sky, far brighter than the scene around it. The iPhone exposes for the darkness, and the Moon burns out. Tap the Moon, drag the exposure slider down, and turn Night mode off.
Why does the moon look smaller in photos?: The camera records its true size: about half a degree, the width of a pea held at arm's length. Your brain enlarges it, especially near the horizon. On Pro models, the telephoto lens makes it several times larger than the main lens does.
Can I photograph the moon in daytime?: Yes, and it is often easier. In the afternoon around first quarter, and in the morning around last quarter, the Moon stands in a blue sky that the camera exposes well. The same four steps apply, with less exposure correction.