Once every month, the moon is invisible in the night sky. But once in a blue moon, the moon is a Black Moon.
Later this week, a new moon dubbed a “Black Moon” will hang in the night sky. Though a Black Moon is a colloquial term for different lunar events, this rare one is so dubbed because it will be the third new moon out of four in an astronomical season, according to EarthSky.
The Black Moon should start to “appear” in the western half of the western hemisphere before 12 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22, according to Time and Date. The Black Moon will happen for the rest of the world after 12 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, including for the central and eastern United States.
But as this moon will be a new moon, it will be hidden in the blackness of space. The moon is invisible in the night sky when it reaches its monthly new moon phase, according to NASA. The illuminated side of Earth’s lone natural satellite faces the sun during this phase, while the moon’s dark side faces Earth.
The lack of moonlight should make, weather permitting, for a perfect stargazing opportunity to view the night sky.
Seasonal black moons happen once every 33 months, with the next one scheduled for Aug. 20, 2028, EarthSky wrote. Other Black Moons can be the second of two new moons in a calendar month. The next of these Black Moons is expected to happen on Aug. 31, 2027.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Source link
