New moon to peak Sunday evening as one of last big skywatching events for January
Feb. 1 marks the next full moon on the calendar, known as the "Snow Moon."
FILE: Lunar sunset recorded by Blue Ghost lander on the Moon
A video compilation shows lunar sunset imagery captured by Blue Ghost from different camera angles on March 16, 2025. These images, stitched together in a video, show a horizon glow that comes to life just above the Moon’s surface as the sun goes down. Earth and Venus (further in the distance) can be seen above the Moon.
The first new moon of the year peaks on Sunday, as one of the last major skywatching events for January.
The new moon signals the reset of the moon's calendar, peaking for just one day.
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January 2026 Moon Phases
(NASA/JPL-Caltech / NASA)
There is actually no moon in the sky when there's a "new moon," so there's nothing to look up for, because the moon is not illuminated by the sun.
Following Sunday's new moon, a tiny sliver of the moon will start to appear in the night sky until it becomes thicker and thicker, eventually representing a whole and becoming a full moon once again.
The next phase in the moon's cycle is a waxing crescent.
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BAYONNE, NJ - OCTOBER 29: A 25 percent illuminated waxing crescent moon sets behind the Tear Drop 9/11 Memorial on October 29, 2022, in Bayonne, New Jersey.
(Gary Hershorn / Getty Images)
While there's no moon to see, it is a great time to go stargazing, as there's no moonlight to block the stars.
The new moon is said to symbolize new beginnings, and many cultures around the world celebrate the new moon as a lunar rebirth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Feb. 1 marks the next full moon on the calendar, known as the "Snow Moon."