What lunar phase provides the best darkness for viewing faint deep-sky objects like nebulae?
Answer
New Moon
The New Moon phase is identified as the undisputed best time for serious viewing, especially targets like nebulae or faint star clusters, because it offers the maximum available darkness. During this phase, there is no significant reflected moonlight illuminating the sky. Conversely, when the Moon is full, its substantial reflected brightness causes a phenomenon known as "sky glow," which drastically reduces the necessary contrast between the dark background sky and the celestial objects being observed, making fainter targets invisible or severely dimmed.
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