Moon
Moon
It’s a challenge every month to spot the New Moon after sunset by naked eye (or eyeglasses) as early as possible. I use the term New Moon in its classical sense of one’s first sighting of the Moon after its monthly solar conjunction (Dark Moon).
The Dark Moon (which some call New Moon) will reach a geocentric minimum illuminated fraction of its apparent disk on 2025 MAY 27 at 02:48 UT (26 at 21:48 CDT).
Sharp eyed observers may attempt to spot the one-day-old Moon after sunset on May 27th. Others should have better luck the following evening. See my New Moon Spotting chart above.
HALF MOON
We see a waxing Half Moon in the evening sky when the Moon has completed the First Quarter of a Lunation.
We see a waning Half Moon in the morning sky when the Moon has begun the Last Quarter of a Lunation.