New Moon in August 2026
The new moon was on , 84 days ago.
- Moon in Leo
- A new lunar cycle begins
- Total solar eclipse
All times are UTC; your local time appears next to each.
When exactly was the new moon?
The Moon passed between Earth and the Sun on . Apart from the solar eclipse, nothing is visible at that moment; the first thin crescent usually shows one or two days later, low in the west after sunset—in this case around Aug 14.
- Moon sign
- Leo
- Day type (garden)
- Fruit day
- Weekday
- Wednesday
Solar eclipse at this new moon
This new moon brought a total solar eclipse, with greatest eclipse at . Where it is visible, how much of the Sun is covered, and the times for 18 cities: solar eclipses 2026. Look at the Sun only through certified eclipse glasses or a solar filter.
The Moon in Leo
At the new moon the Moon and the Sun share the same sign, Leo, a fire sign. In lunar tradition the new moon in Leo opens a cycle colored by that sign’s themes, and the day itself is a fruit day, though both garden and hair tradition treat it as a rest day.
After the new moon: the waxing days
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Garden
The day of the new moon is a rest day for planning. From the next day the Moon waxes, which tradition reads as sowing time for everything that bears above ground: leafy greens, flowers, and fruiting crops on their days. Planting calendar →
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Hair
No cut and no color on the day of the new moon; the waxing days that follow are growth days, when a cut is said to grow back fast. Hair calendar →
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Sky
The nights around the new moon are the darkest of the month, the best for watching stars and meteors. The first crescent appears in the west at dusk; the waxing days begin with the day after the new moon.
Full moon in August 2026
The full moon was on , the Sturgeon Moon in Pisces (full moon in August 2026).
Before and after
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New moon July 2026
Jul 14, 9:44 AM UTC, in Cancer
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New moon September 2026
Sep 11, 3:27 AM UTC, in Virgo
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Lunar calendar August 2026
Every day of the month: phase, moon sign, garden, and hair
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Lunar calendar 2026
All new moons of 2026 with times
Frequently asked questions
Which day is the new moon in August 2026?
The new moon in August 2026 was on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 5:37 PM UTC, with the Moon in Leo.
When can I see the first crescent after the new moon in August 2026?
The first thin crescent usually shows one or two days after the new moon, so look low in the west shortly after sunset from about August 14, 2026. In the Northern Hemisphere the lit edge is on the right.
Is there a solar eclipse at the new moon in August 2026?
Yes. The new moon on August 12, 2026, brought a total solar eclipse, with greatest eclipse at 5:45 PM UTC. Where it is visible depends on the path across Earth; the eclipse pages list the local circumstances for 18 cities.
What does the new moon in August 2026 mean in lunar tradition?
Lunar tradition reads the day of the new moon as a rest day for planning rather than sowing, and the days after it, under the waxing Moon, as the time to sow above-ground crops and to cut hair for fast regrowth. With the Moon in Leo, a fire sign, the day of this new moon is a fruit day in the garden tradition.