A new moon happens when the Moon sits between the Earth and the Sun, so its lit side faces away and it becomes invisible. Those dark nights are the best of the month for stargazing. Here's the countdown and every new moon of 2026.
| Date | Best for |
|---|---|
| January 18 | Winter deep-sky objects |
| February 17 | Orion Nebula |
| March 19 | Zodiacal light |
| April 17 | Lyrids build-up |
| May 16 | Galaxy season |
| June 15 | Milky Way core rising |
| July 14 | Milky Way overhead |
| August 12 | Perseid meteor shower |
| September 11 | Andromeda Galaxy |
| October 10 | Draconids / autumn skies |
| November 9 | Taurids |
| December 9 | Geminid meteor shower |
The highlighted row is the next new moon. Dates in UTC; may shift a day by time zone.
The exact date and a live countdown are at the top of this page.
No — the lit side faces away from Earth, so it's practically invisible. That's what makes the sky so dark.
With no moonlight, faint stars, galaxies and meteor showers become much easier to see.