The New Moon marks the end of one lunar cycle and heralds the start of another. A New Moon appears every 29.5 days, which is the length of the lunar cycle, and the Moon takes about 27.3 days to complete a lap around our planet.
What is the New Moon?
If you look up at the sky tonight (March 22) the Moon might appear as a tiny sliver of light or not be visible at all.
This is because the Moon has entered its Waning Crescent Phase, the last stage before the New Moon.
A New Moon appears when the lunar orb is fully lit by the Sun on the side facing away from us.
As the Moon races around our planet, and the Sun by extension, different amounts of its Earth-facing side are lit by the Sun every day.
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During a Full Moon, the opposite is true, and the Moon’s Earth-facing side is completely illuminated by the Sun.
The US space agency NASA said: “The moonlight we see on Earth is sunlight reflected off the Moon’s greyish-white surface.
“The amount of Moon we see changes over the month – lunar phases – because the Moon orbits Earth and Earth orbits the Sun. Everything is moving.”
Keep in mind the Moon always faces our planet from the same side.
The full lunar cycle, in order, is the New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter and Waning Crescent.
When is the New Moon?
The New Moon phase will peak on the morning of Tuesday, March 24.
Full Moon names date back to Native Americans
NASA
Here in the UK, the New Moon will occur at about 9.28am GMT.
However, much like a Full Moon, the lunar orb appears “New” for about three days centred around the peak.
Although a Moon shrouded in complete darkness does not make for thrilling astronomical observations, it is a good reminder of how every body in the solar system is constantly on the move.
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When is the next Full Moon?
About two weeks after the New Moon, the lunar orb will be positioned with the Earth in between itself and the Sun.
The alignment will produce the April Full Moon, also known as the Pink Moon.
The Full Moon will peak at about 3.35am BST on April 8.
But what is the meaning behind the Pink Moon’s unusual name?
The 12 Full Moons we get to enjoy each year has a unique name that originates in Native American naming traditions.
The names were meant to help keep track of time and the changing seasons.
According to NASA, the Pink Moon is named after a type of pink ground flower that blooms around this time of the year.
NASA said: “Some coastal American Indian tribes have also referred to it as the Full Fish Moon, since it marks a time when shad swim upstream to spawn.
“Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States.
“Those tribes of a few hundred years ago kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring Full Moon.
“Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.”
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