The August new moon is today 8/10 at 03.08 am.
Astrowhizzes tell us that the best time to watch the night sky is new moon–a full moon washes out the dimmer skies. Astronomers call it a “new moon” because shortly after the Moon is completely shadowed, a thin crescent peeks out from one side. This is the beginning of the Moon’s rise to brightness over the next two weeks. The exact time this occurs depends on your geography on Earth, but it will always occur in the Western horizon between sunset and moonset.
A new moon occurs when the Earth, Sun and Moon are lined up so that the Moon is directly in between the Earth and the Sun. From this perspective, the side of the Moon covered in sunlight is turned away from the Earth, and the face we see is in shadow. The Moon takes approximately 29 days to complete the cycle from new moon to full moon and then back to new moon again. During a new moon, the Moon is in conjunction with the Sun, as seen from Earth.
Sometimes called a Harvest Moon the new moon in August is usually a harbinger of the end of summer and the oncoming autumn. Enjoy this fleeting ‘marvelous night for a moondance!’
Watch out for the Full moon 24 August 17.05 pm.
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- New Moon in Leo, August 9 2010 (beliefnet.com)
