Next new moon and new moon dates
The next new moon date and exact UTC time, plus the next 12 upcoming new moons. A new moon happens about every 29.5 days, when the moon sits between the Earth and the sun and its near face is in shadow.
A new moon happens when the moon and sun share the same geocentric ecliptic longitude. The near side of the moon, facing Earth, is then unlit and the moon is invisible to the naked eye.
The nights around new moon are the darkest of the lunar month, which makes them the best time for astrophotography, meteor watching and seeing the Milky Way. The moon rises and sets close to the sun, so it is gone from the night sky.
When the moon, Earth and sun line up exactly at new moon, a solar eclipse happens somewhere on Earth. Most new moons miss perfect alignment by a small amount and no eclipse occurs.
Next 12 new moons
- 15 Jun 2026Monday, 15 June 202602:54 UTC
- 14 Jul 2026Tuesday, 14 July 202609:44 UTC
- 12 Aug 2026Wednesday, 12 August 202617:37 UTC
- 11 Sep 2026Friday, 11 September 202603:27 UTC
- 10 Oct 2026Saturday, 10 October 202615:50 UTC
- 9 Nov 2026Monday, 9 November 202607:02 UTC
- 9 Dec 2026Wednesday, 9 December 202600:52 UTC
- 7 Jan 2027Thursday, 7 January 202720:25 UTC
- 6 Feb 2027Saturday, 6 February 202715:56 UTC
- 8 Mar 2027Monday, 8 March 202709:30 UTC
- 6 Apr 2027Tuesday, 6 April 202723:51 UTC
- 6 May 2027Thursday, 6 May 202710:59 UTC
Frequently asked questions
When is the next new moon?▼
The next new moon date and exact UTC time are shown above. A new moon happens about every 29.5 days, when the moon is between the Earth and the sun and its near side is in shadow.
What is a new moon?▼
A new moon is the lunar phase when the moon shares the same ecliptic longitude as the sun, as seen from Earth. The side of the moon facing us is then in shadow, so the moon is essentially invisible to the naked eye.
Can you see a new moon?▼
Not directly with the naked eye. Around new moon the moon rises and sets close to the sun and is lost in the daytime sky. The sky is darkest around new moon because there is no moonlight at night, which makes it the best time for astrophotography and stargazing.
What happens during a new moon?▼
During a new moon the moon, Earth and sun are roughly aligned with the moon between the other two. When the alignment is exact, a solar eclipse can occur. Most new moons miss alignment slightly and no eclipse happens.
How often does a new moon happen?▼
New moons happen once per synodic month, which is about 29.5 days. There are 12 or 13 new moons in a calendar year.