Rare Black Moon to Appear This Weekend – Here’s What You Need to Know
A rare celestial event, known as a black moon, is set to occur this weekend in the early hours of Saturday, around 2:06 a.m. EDT, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. But don’t worry — you don’t have to stay up late or wake up at 2 a.m. to experience it.
Unlike the more familiar supermoons, harvest moons, or blood moons, the black moon is not visible to the naked eye. That’s because it happens during the new moon phase, when the moon passes between Earth and the Sun. In this position, the illuminated side faces away from us, leaving the moon essentially invisible from Earth.
What is a Black Moon?
The term “black moon” is not an official scientific label, but astronomers use it to describe two rare situations:
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Seasonal Black Moon – when there are four new moons in a season, the third is called a black moon. This occurs about once every 33 months.
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Monthly Black Moon – when two new moons happen in the same month, the second is known as a black moon. This is even rarer and happens only once every 19 years in February.
Why is it Special?
Even though you can’t actually see the black moon, it creates ideal stargazing conditions. With no moonlight brightening the sky, astronomers and sky watchers get a clearer view of the Milky Way, constellations, and deep-sky objects.
Interestingly, the black moon is sometimes confused with the term blue moon. While a blue moon typically refers to the second full moon in a calendar month, some traditions also use it for the third new moon in a season of four.
Can You See It?
No — the black moon itself isn’t visible. However, its effect is similar to what happens during a solar eclipse, when the moon moves between Earth and the Sun.
So while you won’t be able to gaze at the black moon directly, this weekend provides a perfect opportunity to step outside, look up, and enjoy the stars like never before.
