Reality often takes a backseat to narrative in books/movies/games/etc. If you want to “well akshuly” your way though a book, you’re likely to find a lot of details the author got wrong. At the same time, those failed details may provide useful ways for the author to move the story or scene along. “Moonrise” is one of those areas where, if you polled most people, the majority would probably get it wrong. But it’s a useful trope in stories where clocks and precise timekeeping aren’t a thing and where lunar accuracy is also not important. A character saying “it’s well past moonrise” will convey to many readers the idea that it’s pretty late in the night. Could it be done another way? Sure, but the trope gets the job done and not one really cares about the inaccuracy.
Reality often takes a backseat to narrative in books/movies/games/etc. If you want to “well akshuly” your way though a book, you’re likely to find a lot of details the author got wrong. At the same time, those failed details may provide useful ways for the author to move the story or scene along. “Moonrise” is one of those areas where, if you polled most people, the majority would probably get it wrong. But it’s a useful trope in stories where clocks and precise timekeeping aren’t a thing and where lunar accuracy is also not important. A character saying “it’s well past moonrise” will convey to many readers the idea that it’s pretty late in the night. Could it be done another way? Sure, but the trope gets the job done and not one really cares about the inaccuracy.