The geometry behind New Moon
At new moon, the Moon is on the Sun’s side of Earth and we face its largely unilluminated hemisphere. The Moon still has a sunlit side; most of that side faces away from us.
Moon Phases · September 11, 2026
New Moon.
Dark moonless skies make this a useful night for stargazing.
When it happens
Catalog peak
Global reference time: September 11, 2026 at 03:26 UTC. Your local calendar date may differ.
The peak is not necessarily the best time to look from your location. Horizon, darkness, Moon position and weather determine the useful observing window.
What to expect
Visibility & observing notes
The new Moon itself is not visible. Nearby nights can offer less moonlight for stargazing.
- Observing note
- The Moon itself is not visible at new moon.
Make it local
Can I see it near me?
See the best time to look and whether clouds might get in the way. Local weather is usually available up to 16 days ahead.
Your network can suggest an approximate area; it may be wrong if you use a VPN. A city you choose is remembered in this tab until you close it. Precise location needs your browser’s permission and is never saved here. Your location stays out of share links and calendar downloads.
Choose a place for your local sky outlook.
Understand the moment
Sunlight makes the phase
Try it in the astronomy lab
Change the date. Follow the light.
Move the date a few days forward or backward in Moonlight to watch the illuminated fraction change. The boundary between lunar day and night is called the terminator.
Opens . Each scene is an exact daily sample, without interpolation; it is separate from the catalog peak of 03:26 UTC.
How to read the scene: This Earth-centered view shows illumination, not the Moon’s rise time or its rotation relative to your horizon. A daily sample may differ from the exact phase instant.
A little context. A better view.
Moon Phases: a field guide
One phase, different local dates
The exact lunar phase is a global instant. Your time zone can put it on the previous or following calendar date. The Moon’s rise, set and position still depend on where you are.
Full moon lights up the night
A full moon is a useful subject to observe, but its light makes faint stars and meteors harder to see. Choose a clear horizon and check whether the Moon will be above it.
New moon is about what you do not see
The new Moon itself is not a naked-eye target. Reduced moonlight near this phase can help with stargazing, although darkness, clouds and local lighting still determine the view.
Supermoons in context
The catalog identifies some full moons near Earth as supermoons. Event details report distance when available; the label does not guarantee a dramatic visual difference or favorable weather.
Learn more: U.S. Naval Observatory Moon and sky data
More to look forward to
All moon phases ↗
Sep262026 · UTC
Full Moon — Harvest Moon
The Moon reaches its full phase (Harvest Moon).
Oct102026 · UTC
New Moon
Dark moonless skies make this a useful night for stargazing.
Oct262026 · UTC
Full Moon — Hunter's Moon
The Moon reaches its full phase (Hunter's Moon).
Nov92026 · UTC
New Moon
Dark moonless skies make this a useful night for stargazing.
Take the sky with you
From a date on a calendar
to a night worth remembering.
Open the astronomy calendar in Forecast Bar to explore events alongside your local weather and astronomy alert settings.
