A new moon may not be all that remarkable (literally) astronomically speaking, but it does mark the beginning of a new lunar cycle. And this month, the new moon in February also opens the Chinese New Year.
In China, Lunar New Year is a time to let go of the negative energy from the previous year and welcome good fortune and prosperity in the new year. It’s a time for family celebrations and to exorcise evil spirits.
For those who believe in astrology (spoiler: it doesn’t make much scientific sense), a new moon generally represents a fresh start. It’s a time to set intentions, start projects, and focus on personal growth. Astrologers believe that the energy of the new moon will help you plan for the future and sow seeds.
It is often associated with opportunities for self-reflection, goal setting, and personal renewal in various aspects of life. Various astrological signs are believed to influence how this energy manifests in individuals.
Of course, astrology is subjective to some extent, so it’s best to take it with a grain of salt.
But the new moon is exciting for another reason. It’s a more “visible” reason. Solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun. Similarly, a new moon occurs when it is on the same side of the Earth as the sun, so a solar eclipse is: only It occurs at the new moon.
When is the next new moon?
The next new moon will be on February 9, 2024.
Like full moons, new moons are also named according to the season. These usually coincide with full moons that accompany the same lunar cycle.
The beginning of each lunar cycle is marked by a new moon. A new moon occurs every 29.53 days (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 3 seconds to be exact).
Here are all the new moons in 2024 as seen from London:
- January 11th 11:57am: new wolf moon
- February 9th, 10:59pm: new snow moon
- March 10th 9am: new worm moon
- April 8th, 6:21pm: New pink moon*
- May 8th 3:22am: new flower moon
- June 6th, 12:38pm: new strawberry moon
- July 5th, 10:57pm: new back moon
- August 4th 11:13am: new sturgeon moon
- September 3rd, 1:56am: New Corn/Harvest Moon
- October 2nd, 6:49pm: new hunter’s moon
- November 1st, 12:47pm: new beaver moon
- December 1st 6:21am: new cold moon
- December 30th, 10:27pm: black Moon
*Includes solar eclipse
When is Chinese New Year?
Lunar New Year (also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival) is the second new moon after the winter solstice. The date of the Lunar New Year varies between January 21st and February 20th according to the Gregorian calendar.
This year, in 2024, Chinese New Year begins on February 10, 2024.
In China (and other countries in East Asia), this is one of the most important times of the year and festivals are held. May last up to 16 days. The first seven days of his life are designated as official holidays, and the celebration culminates in a lantern festival. full Mon – February 24, 2024.
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As the lunar cycle progresses, it becomes increasingly visible as more sunlight is reflected and moved away from the Sun. If you really want to see the new moon, the first visible phase of the moon is the very thin, sliver-like waxing crescent that occurs just after the new moon. It appears in the western sky after sunset.
The new moon can be seen soon
During a solar eclipse, if you have proper eye protection, you can see the shape of the moon passing in front of the sun, but you can’t actually see it. . You can see every detail.
There is also a phenomenon called “Earth Shine”. This is where the moon is at its thinnest crescent stage, where the unlit parts of the moon become visible. This occurs when sunlight reflects off the Earth and gently illuminates the night side of the moon. This in turn is reflected back to us. This creates the effect of a ghostly glow in the unlit areas, giving it the illusion of a full moon even though it’s not in its full moon phase.
Earthshine typically occurs during the spring for a few days on either side of a new moon.So it’s not very It’s a new moon, but if you really want to see it, you can see it as close as possible.
new moon and solar eclipse
The relationship between solar eclipses and new moons is intertwined. Without a new moon, there will be no solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. Block out all (total solar eclipse) or some (partial solar eclipse) of the sun’s light. With this adjustment, only This phenomenon occurs during the new moon phase, when the moon is directly between the Earth and the sun.
The next solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024, and the total solar eclipse will cross Mexico, the United States, and Canada. A partial solar eclipse will be visible in the westernmost parts of the UK and Ireland.
However, not all new moons cause solar eclipses. This is because the moon’s orbit is slightly different from the Earth’s orbit around the sun. There is a difference of about 5 degrees. This small difference is usually enough for the new moon to pass above or below the Sun without blocking it. In other words, no solar eclipse will occur.
What is a black moon?
The term “black moon” is used to describe the new moon, which is the equivalent of a blue moon. There are several different definitions of a black moon, but it usually refers to two new moons in one calendar month. This simply depends on the number of days in the month and how the calendar is determined.
Some people call a calendar month without a new moon a black moon. This can occur in his February, when there is no new moon about once every 19 years, due to the short length of the moon compared to the lunar cycle.
The next black moon (using the definition of two new moons in a month) will be on December 30, 2024 at 10:27 PM (GMT).
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
