When do we see a new moon?

Seeing a new moon occurs when the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun. In this alignment, the side of the Moon that is illuminated by the Sun is facing away from Earth, making it nearly invisible to observers on our planet. This phase represents the beginning of the lunar cycle, where the Moon transitions from the new moon to various phases until it reaches full moon.

The other options present different phases of the Moon that do not correspond to the new moon. For example, a full moon happens when the Earth is directly between the Sun and the Moon, allowing the entire face of the Moon to be illuminated. The third quarter occurs a week after the full moon, with half of the Moon's face visible from Earth, while the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun corresponds to when the Moon is full, not new.