What happens at new moon
The new moon is the instant when the Moon and the Sun have the same ecliptic longitude: seen from Earth, the Moon passes the Sun. It marks the start of a lunation, the 29.53-day cycle of phases. The Moon rises at sunrise and sets at sunset, lost in the glare, with its dark side turned toward us.
Like every phase, the new moon happens at one instant for the whole planet. The date and time at the top of this page are converted to the time zone of your device.
The darkest nights of the month
The table gives, for each new moon, a week of dark nights: three days before to three days after. During that week the Moon is a thin crescent that rises shortly before the Sun or sets shortly after it, and the middle of the night is moonless. It is the time to plan for:
- the Milky Way, best from a site far from city lights;
- meteor showers, when their peak falls near a new moon;
- faint objects through a telescope: galaxies, nebulae and comets;
- the northern lights, which are easier to photograph without moonlight.
The first crescent and the calendars
Several calendars begin their months with the Moon. In the Islamic calendar a month starts when the thin crescent is first seen after sunset, one or two evenings after the new moon, which is why the start of Ramadan is confirmed only at the last moment in many countries. The Hebrew calendar computes its months from the new moon, and the Chinese calendar starts each month on the day of the new moon itself.
New moons and solar eclipses
A solar eclipse can only happen at new moon. The new moon of 2 August 2027 is the most awaited of the decade: the Moon’s shadow crosses southern Spain, North Africa and Arabia, with up to 6 min 23 s of totality near Luxor. The table marks every new moon that brings an eclipse and links to its page.
Questions and answers
Can you see the new moon?
No. At new moon the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun: its lit side faces away from us, and it crosses the sky in daylight, close to the Sun. The only time a new moon shows itself is during a solar eclipse, as a black disc in front of the Sun.
When does the crescent appear after the new moon?
Usually one or two evenings later, very low in the west just after sunset. Seeing a crescent less than about 15 hours old is a rare feat. Under 24 hours it takes a clear horizon and good eyes.
Why are nights darker at new moon?
A full moon lights the sky enough to hide the Milky Way and most faint stars. Around the new moon the Moon is absent from the night sky or reduced to a thin crescent that sets early. The sky is then as dark as your location allows.
Is there a solar eclipse at every new moon?
No. The Moon's orbit is tilted by about 5° to the Earth's orbit, so at most new moons its shadow passes above or below the Earth. An eclipse needs a new moon close to one of the two points where the orbits cross, which happens two to five times a year.
What is a black moon?
An informal name for the second new moon in one calendar month, the counterpart of the blue moon. It has no astronomical meaning and nothing about it can be seen.
Updated November 11, 2026