Black Moon this weekend: Where and when to catch it (or miss it)
A rare Black Moon will occur on August 23—marking the third new moon of summer. Though invisible, it’s a fascinating and unusual lunar event.
On August 23, many watchers of the night sky will witness a curious astronomical phenomenon known as the “Black Moon.” While it’s not something visible to the naked eye, it marks a special lunar phase and confusingly describes a few different lunar events.
Space.com explains that the term is not official, and instead describes lunar events that are “unusual.” On August 23 at 2:06 am ET, the moon will enter a new phase. When the moon enters a new phase, it is not visible, as its sunlit side is facing away from Earth, leaving the side we see in complete darkness.
What is a Black Moon?
Usually, there are only three new moons each season, but as the space-focused news outlet highlights, the lunar calendar and the seasons don’t fully align, meaning that every once in a while, a fourth new moon occurs in a single season. Summer began on June 20, and on June 25 the first new moon of the season took place, followed by the beginning of another lunar cycle on July 24, and now the third, which will begin later this week. Though many kids will be back to school before September 22, that date marks the official end of summer, with the fourth new moon of the season taking place a day before on September 21.
When will the next Black Moon take place?
To give an idea of how rare the phenomenon is, the last Black Moon occurred over two years ago in May 2023. Space.com reports that these events take place roughly every 33 months, with the next Black Moon slated for 2027.
These events are striking, as they exist, even if we can’t see them. Just like the new features NASA discovered on Mars, it’s exciting to know what’s happening and why.
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