Here's why:

* Lunar phases: The Moon's phases are caused by the changing angles at which we see the sunlit portion of the Moon's surface as it orbits the Earth.

* New Moon Position: During a new moon, the Moon is positioned between the Sun and the Earth. This means the sunlit side of the Moon is facing away from us, and the side facing us is in shadow.

* No Reflected Light: Since no sunlight is reaching the side of the Moon facing us, we don't see any reflected light, making it appear dark.

While we can't see the new moon itself, it's actually still there! It's just hidden in the Sun's glare.