Date
Saturday, May 16, 2026
New Moon May 2026
The New Moon in May 2026 occurs on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 22:01 CEST and stands in the zodiac sign of Taurus ♉. Spring new moon night
New Moon May 2026 — All Details
Time
22:01 CEST
Zodiac Sign
Taurus ♉
Cosmic Hint
Spring new moon night
New Moon May 2026: Highlights and Observation
What makes this New Moon special
This New Moon is a supermoon: at the moment of the phase on May 16, 2026, the Moon is only about 359,000 km from Earth, well below the mean distance of 384,400 km. By the 90 percent rule (distance within the closest 10 percent of its orbit, perigee of this orbit about 358,000 km) it qualifies as a supermoon. In 2026 it is the 2nd closest of 12 New Moons; it is about 6,000 km closer than the New Moon of April (364,000 km) and about 1,000 km farther away than the one of June (357,000 km). A New Moon near perigee is invisible itself, but it noticeably strengthens the spring tides along the coasts.
Observing from London
On the New Moon day, May 16, the Moon rises in London at 04:13 BST and sets at 21:13, almost in step with the Sun, which is why it stays invisible. The night is moonless: dark window from sunset at 20:47 to sunrise at 05:06 (about 8.3 hours). Other locations in the UK differ by a few minutes.
Stargazing & Dark Skies
Deep Sky Observation
Around New Moon, the night sky is at its darkest. Weak celestial objects such as distant galaxies, star clusters, and faint nebulae are best observed now without light pollution from the moon.
Starry Night
Perfect timing for milky way photography or deep space astrophotography. A clear sky combined with a new moon delivers outstanding celestial clarity.
Tip for May 2026
In the moonless May night the spring galaxies ride high: the Virgo Cluster and M81/M82 are within reach of a small telescope.
Frequently Asked Questions about New Moon May 2026
When is the New Moon in May 2026?
Saturday, May 16, 2026, at exactly 22:01 CEST. The exact local time details can be planned in the live calendar view.
In which zodiac sign is the New Moon of May 2026?
The New Moon stands in the sign of Taurus ♉.
Why is a New Moon good for stargazing?
Without moonlight, the night sky is significantly darker. Faint deep-space objects like nebulae and galaxies are much easier to see. Moonlight can wash out thousands of stars that are visible during a new moon.
What is worth observing during the May 2026 New Moon?
In the moonless May night the spring galaxies ride high: the Virgo Cluster and M81/M82 are within reach of a small telescope.
How far away is the Moon at the May 2026 New Moon?
This New Moon is a supermoon: at the moment of the phase on May 16, 2026, the Moon is only about 359,000 km from Earth, well below the mean distance of 384,400 km. By the 90 percent rule (distance within the closest 10 percent of its orbit, perigee of this orbit about 358,000 km) it qualifies as a supermoon. In 2026 it is the 2nd closest of 12 New Moons; it is about 6,000 km closer than the New Moon of April (364,000 km) and about 1,000 km farther away than the one of June (357,000 km). A New Moon near perigee is invisible itself, but it noticeably strengthens the spring tides along the coasts.