January 29, 2025: The Lunar New Year occurs today at the New moon. This year is named after the sixth character in the Chinese zodiac – the Snake.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:06 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:03 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.
New Moon Signals New Year
This morning the moon is New at 6:36 a.m. CST, the beginning of lunation 1263, the number of lunar cycles since the beginning of the count in January 1923.
This is the second New moon after the winter solstice, marking the beginning of the Lunar New Year. The moon has been a reliable timepiece for many cultures. The earliest Egyptian calendar was a combination of seasons, moon phases, and appearances of stars. Jewish and Muslim religious calendars are founded on moon phases. Traditional Asian cultures use the moon and its relationship to the solstice to signal the Lunar New Year. The dates vary from January 21st to February 20th.
Chinese Circle of Animals
This year is identified as the Year of the Snake, the sixth character in the Chinese zodiac. The figures are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig
Today’s New moon time in the America’s corresponds to 8:36 p.m. China Standard Time in Beijing, China.
Countries across the region have various traditions and names for their new year. Commonly, the day is known as the Lunar New Year or the Chinese New Year.
Moon Returns to Western Evening Sky
Tomorrow evening, the thin crescent moon appears in the west-southwest after nightfall. The next evening, the waxing moon is near Saturn.
How ever you celebrate, Happy New Year!
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