A new moon is the phase of the Moon when it moves between the Earth and the Sun, so the side lit by the Sun faces away from us and the Moon appears essentially invisible in the sky.

Quick Scoop: What is New Moon?

  • In astronomy, a new moon happens when the Sun and Moon share the same ecliptic longitude (they line up in space as seen from Earth).
  • Because the bright side is turned away, the lunar disk is either not visible at all or only seen during a solar eclipse when it crosses in front of the Sun.
  • This moment marks the start of a new lunar month, called a lunation or synodic month, which averages about 29.53 days from one new moon to the next.

How it looks in the sky

  • Around the exact new moon, you usually cannot see the Moon, even at night, because its shadowed face points toward Earth.
  • Shortly after, a very thin waxing crescent may appear low in the western sky after sunset; in older calendar traditions this first visible crescent was also called the “new moon.”

Symbolic and cultural meanings

  • Many cultures and calendars treat the new moon as the beginning of a month or a natural reset point, often marked with special prayers or observances.
  • In modern spiritual or astrological circles, the new moon is commonly seen as a time for new beginnings, setting intentions, and “planting seeds” for the coming weeks.

TL;DR: A new moon is the start of the Moon’s cycle, when it sits between Earth and the Sun so we can’t see its sunlit side, marking the beginning of a new lunar month and often symbolizing fresh starts.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.