A new moon is a primary phase of the lunar cycle that occurs when the moon is between the sun and Earth in its orbit.
Meaning of a new moon
The moon is called “new” because it marks the beginning of a “new” lunar month. In ancient times, when there was no calendar, the moon was used to measure the length of a month.
A lunar month is the duration from one new moon to the next new moon. The average length of a lunar month is equal to 29.531 days.
Notice, the length of a lunar month is slightly shorter than a calendar month (except for February).
A new moon is the invisible phase
The moon is in front of the sun with respect to us during a new moon. So the side of the moon that faces our Earth gets no sunlight or is in complete darkness. That’s why a new moon is invisible to us. A new moon is visible only during a solar eclipse.
Rise and set time of a new moon
A new moon rises around sunrise, reaches its highest point in the sky (overhead point) around noon, and sets around sunset.
A new moon rises and sets with the sun because it is located on the same side of Earth as the sun.
Duration of a new moon
A new moon has no duration as it occurs at a specific moment in time. It is the moment when the moon passes between the sun and Earth in its orbit.
A Black Moon is a new moon
A new moon occurs once every 29.531 days, so it’s possible for two new moons to fall within the same calendar month.
When two new moons occur in a calendar month, the second is called a Black Moon. For that to happen, the first new moon must occur on the 1st or 2nd of the month, allowing the second to fall on the 30th or 31st.
No solar eclipse at every new moon
A solar eclipse doesn’t occur at every new moon because the lunar orbit is tilted about 5° with respect to Earth’s orbit. As a result, the moon’s shadow usually passes above or below Earth.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is precisely between the sun and Earth, and the moon’s shadow falls on Earth.
New moon offers the best time for stargazing
The moon is the brightest celestial object visible at night. It can obstruct the view of planets, stars, meteor showers, and other celestial objects. Nights around the new moon are best for stargazing because the sky is moonless.
The phases of the moon
The moon goes through phases as it orbits Earth. Follow the links below to understand the phases of the moon.
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