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New moon
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Diagram showing the phases of the Moon as it orbits Earth, with labeled positions for new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. The Sun is on the right, and arrows illustrate sunlight direction, while angles indicate the Moon's position relative to Earth and Sun at each phase. Dancers in bright traditional costumes and floral headpieces perform outdoors during the Lantern Festival celebration, with onlookers and trees in the background.
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Diagram showing the phases of the Moon as it orbits Earth, with labeled positions for new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. The Sun is on the right, and arrows illustrate sunlight direction, while angles indicate the Moon's position relative to Earth and Sun at each phase.
Lunar phases Phases of the Moon as it orbits Earth, showing the angle formed by the position of the Moon with respect to the Sun at each phase.

New moon

lunar phase
Written by
Erik Gregersen
Erik Gregersen is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, specializing in the physical sciences and technology. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on the...
Erik Gregersen
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
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•History

New moon, one of eight lunar phases, in which the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, and thus the side of the Moon that is in shadow faces Earth. The new moon is traditionally regarded as the first phase in the lunar cycle. The cycle of lunar phases lasts close to a month, at 29.5 days, a period known as the synodic month. Thus, the new moon typically occurs once per calendar month, but when...

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