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New Moon

New Moon

The New Moon is when the moon is a very thin crescent and is in its waxing phase. In astronomical terms, the new moon is not visible to the eye, as the moon is between the earth and the sun and the dark side is facing the earth.

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha.com for New Moon

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  1. What phase occurs between the third quarter and the new moon?

    The crescent phase. Thanks for using ChaCha!

  2. What phase of the moon occurs approximately one week after the new moon?

    About one week after the New Moon phase, the moon will be in ...

  3. What are the dates of the new moon in 2012?

    New moon dates 2012: January 23, Feb. 21, March 22, April 21,...

  4. When is the next new moon?

    MOON PHASES FOR JAN 2012: First Quarter - Jan 1, Full Moon - ...

  5. When is the new moon highest in the sky to an earthbound observer?

    Starting from this point in its orbit, the Moon takes 29.5 da...

  1. What are the dates of the new moon in 2012?

    New moon dates 2012: January 23, Feb. 21, March 22, April 21,...

  2. What phase occurs between the third quarter and the new moon?

    The crescent phase. Thanks for using ChaCha!

  3. When is the next new moon?

    MOON PHASES FOR JAN 2012: First Quarter - Jan 1, Full Moon - ...

  4. What is the location of the moon in relation to earth and the sun during a new moon?

    In astronomical terminology, the new moon is the lunar phase ...

  5. What phase of the moon occurs approximately one week after the new moon?

    About one week after the New Moon phase, the moon will be in ...

  1. When is the next new moon?

    MOON PHASES FOR JAN 2012: First Quarter - Jan 1, Full Moon - ...

  2. What phase of the moon occurs approximately one week after the new moon?

    About one week after the New Moon phase, the moon will be in ...

  3. What does being born on a new moon mean?

    The person born under the new moon is said to have a great de...

  4. What are the new moon dates?

    New moon dates are: Feb. 25, Mar. 26, April 25, May 24, June ...

  5. What is the difference between a full moon and a new moon?

    A new moon being either invisible or visible only as a slende...

Top Questions Asked on ChaCha Mobile for New Moon

In the Last:
Week | Month

  1. What are the dates of the new moon in 2012?

    New moon dates 2012: January 23, Feb. 21, March 22, April 21,...

  2. How long is the period of time from the new moon to the full moon phase?

    The time period between the full moon and new moon is 15 days...

  3. When is the next 'new' moon?

    The 8th of September is the next new moon. ChaCha!

  4. Why is the new moon called new moon?

    The original meaning of the phrase new moon was the first vis...

  5. Why can't we see the moon during the new moon phase?

    During the new moon, the moon is not visible from Earth, beca...

  1. How long is the period of time from the new moon to the full moon phase?

    The time period between the full moon and new moon is 15 days...

  2. What are the dates of the new moon in 2012?

    New moon dates 2012: January 23, Feb. 21, March 22, April 21,...

  3. Why is the moon invisible from earth during a new moon?

    The new moon is essentially invisible because it is between t...

  4. When going from the New Moon phase to the Full Moon phase what will you see?

    You see the moon phases waxing cresent, first quarter (or hal...

  5. What day is the new moon and how many days in between each phase?

    There is a new moon every 30 days. ChaCha!

About New Moon

In astronomical terms, the New Moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the moon lies between the Earth and the Sun. As seen from Earth, the moon is in conjunction with the sun. The dark portion of the moon is facing directly toward Earth and the moon is not visible.

In more popular usage, the New Moon is when the moon is seen as a thin crescent, and is waxing, that is, getting larger.

New Moon in Religion

The New Moon marks the beginning of the month in many lunar calendars including the Muslim calendar. This is also true in lunisolar calendars which include the Buddhist calendar, Hebrew calendar, and Hindu calendar. Buddhist Chinese have a vegetarian diet on the new moon.

New Moon Photo

The first ever picture taken at the exact beginning of the new moon phase was captured on April 14th, 2010. The photo was taken by Thierry Legault, a French amateur astronomer.

Eclipse of the Sun

An eclipse of the sun can only occur at new moon. The eclipse will occur as the moon’s shadow falls upon the Earth’s surface. One would think that new moon would come around every 29 1/2 days. This is usually untrue as the moon’s shadow will miss the Earth due to the Earth’s 5 degree tilt. Twice a year at a minimum the geometry will line up for the Moon’s shadow to fall on the Earth’s surface and an Eclipse of the sun is seen.

Created by KennyInPA

Related Images

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A red shadow falls across the Moon during the last total lunar eclipse of 2011 as seen from the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles, on December 10, 2011. A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon, following its orbit around Earth, passes directly behind our planet as seen from the sun.

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New Moon