The first new moon of the year will be in the sky overnight on Jan. 27 but that doesn't mean you will be able to see it.
One of four lunar phases, a new moon occurs when the orb is generally positioned between the Earth and the sun so that the illuminated side is facing away from Earth. At those times, the moon is practically invisible from Earth. The moon will remain barely visible for a day or so, until it reappears as only a skinny, crescent shape in the sky, sometimes called a young moon. The moon's appearance then grows until it reaches full moon, then goes back down again.
You can't see a new moon or even take a photo of it without specialized equipment. The rare exception is when the new moon coincides with a solar eclipse and it passes in front of the sun and the night side of the moon can be seen in silhouette, EarthSky explains.
While for most the new moon is simply an interesting tidbit of sky news, there are plenty of superstitions surrounding its disappearing act. One such tradition is that you should tap your wallet or pocket on a new moon to ensure wealth. However, another states that it's not a good idea to start a business at the same time as a new moon because it will have a bad outcome.