Why New Moons Matter for Stargazing
The new moon phase provides the darkest skies of each month, making it the ideal time for stargazing, astrophotography, and observing faint deep-sky objects like the Milky Way, nebulae, and distant galaxies.
During a new moon, the moon rises and sets with the sun, remaining invisible throughout the entire night. With no moonlight to compete with, stars become dramatically more visible, and the Milky Way's galactic core appears in stunning detail.
The best dark sky window extends 3-5 days on either side of the new moon. During this period, the moon remains less than 25% illuminated, providing excellent conditions for observation. This gives you approximately 10 days each month to plan your stargazing sessions around optimal lunar darkness.
Whether you're planning deep-sky astrophotography, Milky Way time-lapses, or simply want to see thousands more stars with the naked eye, the dates below mark your best opportunities in 2025.
Planning Tip
2025 New Moon Dates
| Month | New Moon Date | Time (UTC) | Best Dark Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 29 | 12:36 | Jan 25 - Feb 2 |
| February | Feb 28 | 00:45 | Feb 24 - Mar 4 |
| March | Mar 29 | 10:58 | Mar 25 - Apr 2 |
| April | Apr 27 | 19:31 | Apr 23 - May 1 |
| May | May 26 | 03:02 | May 22 - May 30 |
| June | Jun 25 | 10:32 | Jun 21 - Jun 29 |
| July | Jul 24 | 19:11 | Jul 20 - Jul 28 |
| August | Aug 23 | 06:07 | Aug 19 - Aug 27 |
| September | Sep 21 | 19:54 | Sep 17 - Sep 25 |
| October | Oct 21 | 12:25 | Oct 17 - Oct 25 |
| November | Nov 20 | 06:47 | Nov 16 - Nov 24 |
| December | Dec 20 | 01:43 | Dec 16 - Dec 24 |
Times shown in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). Convert to your local timezone for precise planning.
2025 New Moon Highlights
June 25 - Peak Milky Way Season
The June new moon falls perfectly during peak Milky Way season when the galactic core is highest in the sky. This is one of the best opportunities of the year to capture stunning wide-field shots of our galaxy. The galactic core will be visible all night long with zero moonlight interference.
July 24 - Summer Milky Way Glory
Another exceptional window for Milky Way photography and observation. July offers warm weather, long nights, and the galactic core positioned prominently in the southern sky. Combined with the new moon, this creates ideal conditions for all-night imaging sessions.
October 21 - Orionid Meteor Shower
The October new moon coincides with the peak of the Orionid meteor shower (Oct 20-21), remnants of Halley's Comet. Expect to see 10-20 meteors per hour under dark skies with absolutely no moonlight to diminish the show. This is a rare alignment worth planning for.
December 20 - Geminid Aftermath
While the Geminid meteor shower peaks on December 13-14 (with only 8% moon illumination - excellent conditions), the December 20 new moon provides another opportunity to catch lingering Geminid activity in completely dark skies. The Geminids often remain active for several days after their peak.
Time Zone Conversion
Quick Reference: What Moon Phase is Tonight?
Instead of checking a calendar each time, use our forecast tool to instantly see tonight's current moon phase, illumination percentage, and whether it's a good night for stargazing.
Our tool calculates the exact moon age and phase in real-time for your location, so you always know if the conditions are right for heading out to dark skies.
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Check real-time cloud cover, moon phase, and visibility conditions.
Check Tonight's ForecastThe Dark Sky Window Explained
The new moon itself represents 0% illumination - the moon is completely dark and invisible. But you don't need to wait for the exact new moon date to enjoy dark skies.
The usable dark sky window extends approximately 5 days before and 5 days after the new moon. During this period, the moon remains thin enough that its light doesn't significantly interfere with stargazing or astrophotography.
Moon Illumination Guide
- 0-15%Excellent - Ideal for all stargazing and astrophotography
- 15-25%Very Good - Minimal interference, still great for most observations
- 25-40%Good - Some interference, but acceptable for bright targets
- 40-50%Fair - Timing around moonrise/moonset becomes important
- 50%+Limited - Quarter moon and beyond, significant light pollution
At 50% illumination (quarter moon), the moon becomes bright enough to wash out fainter stars and nebulae. However, you can still observe by planning around moonrise and moonset times - shoot before the moon rises or after it sets.
The "Best Dark Window" dates in the table above represent the period when the moon is below 25% illumination, giving you maximum flexibility to observe at any time of night without worrying about lunar interference.
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