Second New Moon of December

The moon cycles through its phases every 29.5 days, allowing a phase to repeat if it first occurs early in a calendar month. For the second time in December, the moon will reach its new moon phase on Monday, December 30 at 5:27 p.m. EST, 2:27 p.m. PST, and 22:27 GMT. At that time our natural satellite will be located within Sagittarius and 5.5 degrees south of the sun. Since sunlight is only reaching the far side of the moon, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun, the moon becomes completely hidden from view. On the evenings following the new moon phase, Earth’s planetary partner will return to shine in the western sky after sunset.