The Moon shares the daytime sky
The Moon is above the horizon for roughly half of every day, and much of that time can overlap daylight. It does not belong exclusively to nighttime. Whether you notice it depends on phase, angular distance from the Sun, altitude, atmospheric clarity, and where you look.
The lunar surface is bright enough to stand out against blue sky when it is sufficiently illuminated and separated from the Sun’s glare.
Phase tells you when to look
A waxing crescent is often visible in the western afternoon or early evening. First quarter rises around midday and can be high near sunset. A waxing gibbous Moon rises in the afternoon. After Full Moon, a waning gibbous Moon remains visible in the western morning sky, and last quarter can be high around sunrise.
Near new Moon, the illuminated side faces mostly away from Earth and the Moon lies close to the Sun in our sky, making it extremely difficult and unsafe to search for optically.
Observe safely
Use the phase and a sky map to know which direction to search rather than sweeping binoculars around the Sun. Never point binoculars, a telescope, or a telephoto camera near the Sun without properly designed solar equipment. For casual observation, place a building between you and the Sun and look for the Moon well away from it.
