New moon: meaning, dates and signs
A new moon is the moment each month when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, so the side facing us is unlit and the Moon is effectively invisible. In astrology and folk tradition it stands for beginnings: a blank page, and a time to set a quiet intention.
New moon dates 2026
12 new moons in 2026, in UTC. The sign is the one the Sun and Moon share at that moment. Computed from their positions, to about a minute.
| Date | Time | Moon in |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, 18 Jan 2026 | 19:52 UTC | Capricorn |
| Tue, 17 Feb 2026 | 12:02 UTC | Aquarius |
| Thu, 19 Mar 2026 | 01:24 UTC | Pisces |
| Fri, 17 Apr 2026 | 11:52 UTC | Aries |
| Sat, 16 May 2026 | 20:01 UTC | Taurus |
| Mon, 15 Jun 2026 | 02:55 UTC | Gemini |
| Tue, 14 Jul 2026 | 09:44 UTC | Cancer |
| Wed, 12 Aug 2026 | 17:37 UTC | Leo |
| Fri, 11 Sept 2026 | 03:26 UTC | Virgo |
| Sat, 10 Oct 2026 | 15:49 UTC | Libra |
| Mon, 9 Nov 2026 | 07:02 UTC | Scorpio |
| Wed, 9 Dec 2026 | 00:52 UTC | Sagittarius |
New moon dates 2027
13 new moons in 2027, in UTC. The sign is the one the Sun and Moon share at that moment. Computed from their positions, to about a minute.
| Date | Time | Moon in |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, 7 Jan 2027 | 20:25 UTC | Capricorn |
| Sat, 6 Feb 2027 | 15:56 UTC | Aquarius |
| Mon, 8 Mar 2027 | 09:29 UTC | Pisces |
| Tue, 6 Apr 2027 | 23:51 UTC | Aries |
| Thu, 6 May 2027 | 10:58 UTC | Taurus |
| Fri, 4 Jun 2027 | 19:40 UTC | Gemini |
| Sun, 4 Jul 2027 | 03:02 UTC | Cancer |
| Mon, 2 Aug 2027 | 10:05 UTC | Leo |
| Tue, 31 Aug 2027 | 17:41 UTC | Virgo |
| Thu, 30 Sept 2027 | 02:36 UTC | Libra |
| Fri, 29 Oct 2027 | 13:37 UTC | Scorpio |
| Sun, 28 Nov 2027 | 03:24 UTC | Sagittarius |
| Mon, 27 Dec 2027 | 20:12 UTC | Capricorn |
What a new moon means
Astronomically, the new moon is the start of the lunar cycle. The Moon and Sun share the same ecliptic longitude and the Moon rises and sets with the Sun, lost in its glare. It is not the thin crescent that appears low after sunset a day or two later. The dates on this page are the exact moments of conjunction, calculated, so the first visible crescent follows a day or two afterwards.
Astrologers read a new moon as a conjunction, the Sun and Moon in the same sign, and say its flavour is the flavour of that sign. A new moon in Taurus is described as practical and grounded; one in Aries as bold and restless. Because the cycle restarts, the new moon is treated as the natural time to begin things, and the weeks that follow as the time to build on them.
The word spiritual is attached to the new moon mainly through ritual. People write intentions, plant seeds, start journals or simply take stock. None of this depends on the Moon, and no evidence shows that starting something at a new moon makes it more likely to succeed. What the ritual does offer is a fixed, regular moment to stop and decide what you want, and many people find that a monthly reset is useful whatever its source.
New moons and eclipses
Every solar eclipse happens at a new moon, because the Moon has to be between the Earth and the Sun to cover it. Most new moons produce no eclipse, because the Moon's orbit is tilted a few degrees against the Earth's, so it usually passes above or below the Sun. When astrologers refer to an eclipse new moon, they mean one of the few where the alignment is close enough.
New moon in each zodiac sign
Use the sign column in the tables above to find which of these applies to a given date.
- New moon in Aries. Read as a push to start something yourself: a project, a conversation, a change you have been circling. The emphasis is on courage and speed over planning. Natal Moon in Aries.
- New moon in Taurus. Linked with money, the body and steadiness. Traditionally a time to plant something slow-growing and to ask what you actually value. Natal Moon in Taurus.
- New moon in Gemini. Associated with curiosity, messages and short plans. A good moment, in the traditional reading, to start a course, a draft or an overdue exchange. Natal Moon in Gemini.
- New moon in Cancer. The Moon at home in its own sign, tied to family, home and feeling safe. Read as a time to begin something around nurture, roots or the household. Natal Moon in Cancer.
- New moon in Leo. Linked with creativity, confidence and being seen. Traditionally a time to start something expressive, and to ask where you hide your own light. Natal Moon in Leo.
- New moon in Virgo. Associated with routines, health habits and craft. Read as a time to begin small, practical improvements and to reset a working rhythm. Natal Moon in Virgo.
- New moon in Libra. Tied to partnership, fairness and negotiation. Read as a time to reconsider an agreement, or to begin a relationship on clearer terms. Natal Moon in Libra.
- New moon in Scorpio. Associated with depth, trust and things kept private. Traditionally the time to look at what you want to end or to investigate. New moon in Scorpio dates. Natal Moon in Scorpio.
- New moon in Sagittarius. Linked with belief, travel and long views. Read as a time to start a journey, a course of study or a bigger question. Natal Moon in Sagittarius.
- New moon in Capricorn. Associated with ambition, structure and long timelines. Read as a time to set a goal that will take years, and to be honest about the effort. Natal Moon in Capricorn.
- New moon in Aquarius. Linked with friends, causes and doing things differently. A traditional moment to start something collective or to question a habit that is only there from convention. Natal Moon in Aquarius.
- New moon in Pisces. Associated with imagination, rest and surrender. Read as a time to begin something quiet, or to set intentions through dreams and art rather than lists. Natal Moon in Pisces.
Ways people mark a new moon
These are reflection habits tied to a monthly date. The Moon is the reminder, not the mechanism.
Write one intention, in the present tense
One line is enough, and it works better than a list. People often phrase it as something they are doing rather than something they hope will happen to them.
Take a month's inventory
Before starting anew, look back at the previous cycle. What did you finish, drop or avoid? A fresh start is easier when you can say what you are leaving behind.
Pick a small first action
A beginning is mostly the first step. Choose something that takes under thirty minutes and do it within a day or two, while the intention still feels vivid.
Clear a physical space
Tidying a desk or a shelf is a common new moon ritual. It is practical and gives the sense of a clean slate that the date symbolises.
Rest on purpose
The dark of the Moon has long been tied to rest. If you are tired, treating the night as a pause is a perfectly good way to mark it.
Frequently asked questions
What does the new moon mean in astrology?
It marks the start of a lunar cycle. The Sun and Moon share a sign, and astrologers read the new moon as a time of beginnings whose theme is that of the sign. It is a symbolic reading and not a prediction.
What is the spiritual meaning of a new moon?
Across many traditions the new moon represents new beginnings, quiet, and the dark before growth. People use it for setting intentions, planting, rest and reflection. It is a meaning given by culture, not an effect that science has measured.
How long does a new moon last?
The exact new moon is a single moment, but in common usage the term covers the day or two around it when the Moon cannot be seen. The next visible crescent usually appears one to two days later.
Is a new moon the same as a dark moon?
Often the two terms are used interchangeably. Some traditions say the dark moon is the last invisible day or two before the new moon, and the new moon is the first sliver afterward. The dates here are the astronomical moment, when the Moon and Sun are aligned.
Does a new moon cause an eclipse?
A solar eclipse can only happen at a new moon, but most new moons do not cause one. The Moon's orbit is tilted, so it usually passes above or below the Sun.
Are the times on this page in my time zone?
They are in UTC. Add or subtract your own offset to convert. The calendar date can differ depending on where you live.
Keep going
Full moon dates and names · Solar and lunar eclipses · Lunar calendar by month · The eight moon phases · Find your Moon sign · The twelve zodiac signs · Talk to an astrologer about your chart