Rare Black Moon and Celestial Spectacle to Illuminate Skies This Weekend: Guide to Planet Spotting and Eclipse Events

The celestial body known as the moon possesses several intriguing monikers. August marked the sturgeon moon, while March saw the blood moon, characterized by a reddish appearance during a lunar eclipse. A lesser-known term is the black moon, set to occur this weekend and defined by its rarity and invisibility.

This astronomical event will transpire late Friday into early Saturday morning. The moon’s closest approach to the sun will occur at 2:06 a.m. ET on Saturday, as per EarthSky.

Much like the blue moon, the term black moon is not officially recognized but refers to the second new moon in a single month. Occurring once every approximately 29 months, it takes place when the moon aligns with the sun yet fails to produce an eclipse, rendering it invisible from Earth due to its hidden illumination phase.

As opposed to solar eclipses, where the moon obstructs the sun, casting a shadow on Earth, this alignment finds the moon situated near the sun.

In addition to providing astronomers with an ideal opportunity for stargazing, given minimal light pollution from the moon, the black moon also signifies a rare moment to observe other celestial bodies. Planets such as Venus, Mars, and Saturn may be seen during this period, following sunset or just before sunrise.

Equipped with binoculars or telescopes, stargazers can also target the dumbbell nebula, a vibrant, glowing remnant of an ancient star located approximately 1,200 light-years from Earth within the Vulpecula constellation. The nebula becomes visible during the first half of the night.

Four more full moons await us this year, with supermoons—full moons that coincide with the moon’s closest approach to Earth—taking place in October, November, and December.

The following is a list of remaining full moons in 2025, as per the Farmers’ Almanac:

Two cosmic events will take place towards the end of summer. A total lunar eclipse will be observable across Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of eastern South America, Alaska, and Antarctica on September 7 and 8, according to Time and Date.

A lunar eclipse transpires when the moon passes directly into Earth’s shadow as the sun, Earth, and the moon align. This alignment causes the moon to appear darker or dimmed.

When the moon occupies the darkest part of Earth’s shadow, the sun’s rays seep through from behind the Earth, refracting light and giving the moon a reddish hue. Some refer to this phenomenon as a blood moon.

Two weeks following the total lunar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Australia, the Atlantic, the Pacific, and Antarctica on September 21.

Solar eclipses occur when the moon moves between the sun and Earth. In the case of a partial solar eclipse, the moon will not fully obscure the sun, creating a crescent shape as if the moon has taken a bite from the sun.