New Moon 2023: Calendar, Dates, Times
In astronomy, the new moon is the first lunar phase. It marks the first day of the month in the Chinese calendar. At this phase, the moon is not visible to the naked eye.
What is a New Moon?
The new moon is a phase of the moon, which occurs when the moon orbits the earth and interfaces between the sun and the earth, the moon is in line with the sun. At this moment, the dark side of the moon facing away from the sun faces the earth, so the moon cannot be seen from the earth. It seems to have disappeared from our view at this phase of the lunar cycle.
When the moon is perfectly aligned in front of the Sun, it blocks out the Sun, giving us a solar eclipse.
When to See the New Moon?
The new moon marks the beginning of the month in the Chinese calendar. It is when the moon gradually moves away from the sun and the crescent moon gradually emerges.
At the beginning of each month in the Chinese calendar, when viewed from the earth, the moon and the sun have the same longitude, and the moon and the sun are in the same position but not in the same place.
Then the moon gradually moves away from the sun, and the angle between the moon and the sun on the celestial sphere becomes larger and larger, which indicates that the side of the moon that reflects sunlight faces the earth. On the seventh or eighth day, half of the side that reflects the sun faces the earth, and the moon looks like a semicircle. The phase of the moon moves to the first quarter moon.
New Moon Calendar 2023
A new moon recurs every 29.53 days — the synodic period of the Moon. In 2022, there will be 12 new moons.
Month | Time (ET) | Star Sign |
---|---|---|
January 22 | 13:33 | Aquarius |
February 20 | 00:49 | Pisces |
March 22 | 12:25 | Aries |
April 20 | 02:27 | Aries |
May 19 | 07:32 | Taurus |
June 18 | 22:53 | Gemini |
July 18 | 13:55 | Cancer |
August 16 | 04:16 | Leo |
September 15 | 17:54 | Virgo |
October 15 (Solar Eclipse) | 06:48 | Libra |
November 13 | 17:57 | Scorpio |
December 13 | 05:17 | Sagittarius |
New Moon Effects on Physiology/Mood
It is believed that the low light of a new moon might make us quite sensitive. People demonstrate more erratic behavior during this time.
In theory, the low light of a new moon could disturb people's sleep, which could influence their mood. People are more irritable when they don't get enough sleep. Also, little moonlight is conducive to nocturnal activities, whether outdoor crime or outings of the mentally ill.