The New Moon is the start of the monthly lunar cycle, when the glowing disc of the Moon is not visible to the unaided eye.
This year, the October New Moon will peak in the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 9, when seen from the UK.
In London, the New Moon will officially peak around 4.46am BST (3.46am UTC).
The New Moon will then dip below the horizon at 7.12am BST (6.12am UTC) and will reappear without a glow at 6.59pm BST (5.59pm UTC).
New Moons typically rise at the same time as the Sun, which rises tomorrow at 7.14am BST (6.14am UTC) and sets at 6.20pm BST (5.20pm UTC).
The crescent Moon will become visible once again just a day after the New Moon.
What is the October New Moon?
A New Moon occurs whenever the Moon and the Sun are perfectly aligned, with the lunar orb in between the star and the Earth in space.
When viewed from Earth, the planet-facing side of the Moon appears blank and not lit up by the Sun.
Officially, the New Moon is known as the Syzygy in the Sun-Earth-Moon system or the conjunction.
Astronomer Deborah Byrd of EarthSky.org explained: “When the Moon is most nearly between the Earth and Sun for any particular month, astronomers say it is new.
“We don’t see a New Moon in the sky, unless there’s a solar eclipse, with the Moon directly in front of the Sun.”
The Moon’s lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days from New Moon to New Moon, and New Moon’s typically fall in the middle of the month.
When is the October Full Moon?
Two weeks after the New Moon disappears from the skies, the brilliant Full Moon will light up the night.
This month, the Full Moon will peak on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 24.
The Full Moon will peak around 5.45pm BST (4.45pm UTC) when the Moon is 100 percent illuminated by the Sun.
In some Native American cultures, the October Full Moon is known as the Full Hunter’s Moon or the Dying Grass Moon.
Amy Nieskens of the Old Farmer’s Almanac guidebook explained: “October’s Full Moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon.
“This was the traditional time of year for hunting and slaughtering in preparation for the coming winter.
“The ancient cross-quarter day of Samhain on October 31 was the traditional day for harvesting and slaughtering as well, and the death night of the old year.
“Today we know this day as Halloween and it is come to be associated with ghosts and graveyards.”
The Full Moon will be the 11th Full Moon of this year’s lunar calendar, with the last Full Moon on December 22.
What is the October Full Moon?
The Full Moon is the completely illuminated phase of the lunar orb when the Sun and Moon are positioned on either side of the Earth.
The Full Moon technically only lasts a very short amount of time but can appear to be full on the day before and after the peak, when the Moon is 98 percent illuminated.
The official term for the Full Moon is the Syzygy of the Sun-Earth-Moon system.