New moon dates 2028

All new moons in 2028

Times are from the US Naval Observatory, rounded to the nearest minute and converted to Central European Time: CET, with CEST from 26 March to 29 October 2028. Independent calculations give the same minute. Signs refer to the tropical zodiac of Western astrology rather than visible constellations. Some moon calendars truncate seconds and give eight dates one minute earlier, such as 21:46 rather than 21:47 on 24 April (new moon at 21:46:54).

The last new moons of 2027

All 13 new moons in 2027, including the Black Moon on 31 August, are listed in New moon dates 2027.

Is there a Black Moon in 2028?

It depends on the definition. Today, “Black Moon” usually means the second new moon in a calendar month, the counterpart to a Blue Moon. In Central European Time, none occurs in 2028: the twelve new moons fall in twelve separate months. The next calendar Black Moon in this time zone is not until 30 June 2030 at 23:35 CEST, just before midnight; one time zone farther east, it falls in July.

The older definition follows the seasons: when an astronomical season contains four new moons instead of three, the third is the Black Moon. Summer 2028 runs from 20 June (22:02 CEST) to 22 September (13:45 CEST) and contains the new moons of 22 June, 22 July, 20 August and 18 September. The third, on 20 August 2028 at 12:44 CEST, is therefore the seasonal Black Moon. There is nothing to see at new moon, but the moonless nights around 20 August are dark and good for viewing the Milky Way.

For full moons, 2028 brings the reverse: December has two, and the New Year's Eve full moon is both a Blue Moon and a Blood Moon (Full moon dates 2028).

New moons and solar eclipses in 2028

Every solar eclipse falls at new moon. There are two in 2028:

• 26 January 2028, annular: The ring is visible over Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Spain and Portugal, shortly before sunset in Spain. Germany and Central Europe see a partial eclipse that ends with sunset: in Hamburg from 16:38 to 16:49 CET, with just under 9 per cent of the Sun's diameter covered; in Köln from 16:38 to 17:12 (up to 0.36); in München from 16:41 to 17:02 (up to 0.23). More is visible farther southwest, with the Sun only a few degrees above the southwestern horizon. You need a clear view southwest and eclipse glasses even when the Sun is low. All cities and a location finder: Solar eclipse on 26 January 2028 in Germany and Central Europe.
• 22 July 2028, total: Up to 5 minutes 10 seconds of totality over Australia and New Zealand, including Sydney. It is night in Germany and Central Europe, so the eclipse is not visible there.

A good eclipse for Germany and Central Europe comes earlier: the partial solar eclipse on 2 August 2027 (Times and coverage by city). For the 2028 lunar eclipses, including the New Year's Eve Blood Moon: Lunar eclipse 2028.

New moon to full moon: the 2028 pairs

Each new moon is followed by a full moon just over two weeks later. If you set new moon intentions, use it as a check-in. The planner above adds both events to your calendar together.

Other highlights in 2028

• New moon on the day the clocks change: On 26 March 2028, clocks move forward from 02:00 to 03:00. The new moon follows at 06:31, already in summer time (CEST). Using CET puts you an hour out. Some posts made exactly this mistake in October 2026.
• Closest new moon to Earth: At new moon on 18 September 2028, the Moon is around 357,100 km from Earth; on 20 August it is around 358,600 km away. Some call this a super new moon. It is invisible, but coastal spring tides are slightly stronger.
• Farthest new moons from Earth: 26 January (around 405,000 km) and 25 February (around 406,400 km).
• Dark nights for meteor showers: The Geminids usually peak around 14 December, two days before the new moon on 16 December in 2028. The evenings are moonless. For advice on watching a shower, see Meteor showers 2027.

Why 2028 has only twelve new moons

The average interval between new moons is 29.53 days. Twelve lunar months total just over 354 days, around eleven fewer than a calendar year. Whether a thirteenth fits depends on how early January's first new moon falls. In 2027 it was on 7 January, leaving room for thirteen. In 2028, the first is not until 26 January, and the twelfth on 16 December leaves no room before New Year's Eve. The leap day on 29 February does not change this.

What happens at new moon

At new moon, the Sun and Moon lie in the same direction as seen from Earth. The Moon's illuminated side faces away from us, so we cannot see it. New moon is an exact moment. A thin crescent begins to appear in the western sky after sunset on the following evening, usually becoming easy to spot one or two days later.

A simple new moon ritual

Astrology treats the new moon as the start of a cycle. The most common practice needs only a pen and paper:

1. On the new moon day or the following evening: Write one specific intention, perhaps linked to the sign's theme in the table above.
2. At the following full moon: Review what has happened and decide what to continue or let go.
3. At the next new moon: Begin again. In 2028, that gives you twelve rounds.

The benefit lies in the rhythm: pausing and adjusting every four weeks. You do not need to believe in astrology to do that.

Related: New moon dates 2027, Full moon dates 2028, Lunar eclipses and Blood Moon 2028, Solar eclipses 2028, Meteor showers 2027, Today's moon phase, Moon calendar 2028 for gardening and haircuts, Subscribe to moon phases in your calendar.

More on Cosmolytic: the new moon in astrology and why it is a conjunction of the Sun and the Moon, both in the same sign at almost the same degree.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• US Naval Observatory: Phases of the Moon (data service)
• NASA Eclipse Website: Solar Eclipses 2021–2030
• timeanddate.de: Wiesbaden moon phases 2028 (cross-check)
• timeanddate.de: Solar eclipse on 26 Jan 2028 in Köln
• Wikipedia: New moon

Responsible: Maximilian Stroh, Anonyfox e. K., Hamburg