New moon August 2026 in Leo

What time is it where you are?

The same instant falls on different dates around the world, so check the date as well as the time.

When to look for the first crescent

A new moon itself cannot be seen, because it sits in the Sun's glare. The thin crescent usually shows up low in the west after sunset once the Moon sets about 60 minutes after the Sun. This is the first evening that happens in each city.

Clear skies and a low western horizon help a lot, so treat these as the first good chance, not a promise.

The total solar eclipse

The eclipse peaks at 17:45 UTC. Of our reference cities, it can be seen from New York (partial, 9% of the Sun covered), London (partial, 91% of the Sun covered), Madrid (partial, 99% of the Sun covered) and Reykjavik (total, 100% of the Sun covered).

Eclipse visibility is checked at the peak for 20 world cities. Never look at the Sun directly, even during a partial eclipse.

The stars behind this new moon

Signs follow the seasons and constellations are patterns of stars, and the two have drifted apart over the centuries. At 20°02′ Leo, the Moon stands in front of Leo, the lion, so this time the sign and the stars agree. The Sun, right beside the Moon at 20°01′ Leo, is in front of Leo.

More about LeoWhy signs and constellations differSee the real sky at your own birth

How close is the Moon?

At 366,945 km from Earth, this is the 5th closest of the 12 new moons of 2026.

Perigee, the closest point of this orbit, comes on 10 August 2026 at 11:18 UTC, 2 days before the exact new moon, at 363,273 km. Apogee, the farthest point, comes on 22 August 2026 at 404,632 km.

The planets at this new moon

Where everything else stands at the exact moment, and any major aspect each planet makes to the Moon, using the same orbs Hali uses in every chart.

The tightest contact is a trine from Saturn, 5.5° from exact. A trine from Saturn tends to make its themes easy to draw on. Saturn, Neptune and Pluto are retrograde at this moment.

Planets to look for

With no Moon in the evening sky, the nights around a new moon are the darkest of the month, good for planets and faint stars.

• Mercury is too close to the Sun to see.
• Venus is in the evening sky after sunset, in front of Virgo.
• Mars is in the morning sky before dawn, in front of Gemini.
• Jupiter is too close to the Sun to see.
• Saturn is in the morning sky before dawn, in front of Pisces.

Eclipse season

The Moon is 9.8° from the South Node, one of the two points where its path crosses the Sun's. That is close enough for the total solar eclipse described above. The next eclipse is the partial lunar eclipse at the full moon of August 2026.

What the lunar nodes are

This lunar cycle

This new moon starts a cycle that peaks with the full moon in Pisces on 28 August 2026. It ends with the next new moon on 11 September 2026.

A new moon in Leo

The Sun and Moon meet in Leo, so this new moon is about creativity and joy. Consider what you would make or do if nobody was watching, and then maybe let someone watch.

Astrology reads full and new moons as moments for reflection, not predictions. Take what helps and leave the rest.

When the Moon is in Leo

Leo Moon days are warm and expressive. People want attention, fun and a bit of drama, so it's a good time for creativity, celebrations and generous gestures.

More about the Moon in Leo

The same moon in other years

• Last yearNew moon August 2025, Virgo
• Next yearNew moon August 2027, Leo