Invisible Black Moon Phenomenon Set to Occur This Weekend: A Guide for Stargazing Instead

This weekend marks the appearance of a seldom-seen celestial event, known as the “black moon.” Although it may not be visible to the naked eye, its occurrence is nonetheless significant.

In the lunar cycle, a new moon phase occurs when the moon lies nearly between Earth and the sun, with one side of the moon facing the sun and thus illuminated. During this phase, the moon, being gravitationally locked with Earth, always presents the same side to us. This results in the moon’s invisibility from Earth at night.

The term “black moon,” while not an official astronomical designation, has been used to describe a new moon under two circumstances. It can occur when two new moons appear within a single month or when four new moons occur in one season, with the third such event being referred to as a “black moon.”

This weekend’s black moon marks the third new moon of the summer season. The fourth and final new moon of the season will occur on September 21, just a day before the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, during which the sun crosses the celestial equator, creating an equal distribution of daylight and night time.

While the black moon itself remains unseen, stargazers can take advantage of this occasion to observe other celestial wonders. For instance, the Dumbbell Nebula (M27), renowned for its dumbbell-like shape, can be observed with a telescope between the Altair and Deneb stars, according to NASA.

The next occurrence of a black moon is scheduled for August 31, 2027, during which it will serve as the second new moon phase within a single calendar month.