Lovers of all things astronomy and celestial are in for a real treat tonight, Monday, December 30th, as a rare black moon will rise in the night sky! So not only will we be ringing in the new year with one of the best annual meteor showers, we’ll be closing out 2024 with a bang as well.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s black moon:
What is a black moon?
While black moon is not an official astronomical term, it’s the term given to the second new moon that occurs in a calendar month, according to Space.com.
A black moon occurs due to the misalignment between the moon’s phases and the calendar–a lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, while calendar months, of course, are longer. This leads to the occasional month with two new moons. Moreover, there are two types of black moon: a monthly black moon and a seasonal black moon.
What time will the black moon rise in the sky?
The black moon will rise in the sky tonight at 5:27 pm EST, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Will the moon actually appear black in color?
To clarify, a black moon isn’t like the pink moon, where the moon actually changes color and takes on a golden hue, or the blood moon where it appears reddish. That’s to say the moon won’t be black in color–in fact, it won’t actually be visible at all.
The moon can’t be seen from Earth during a new moon phase because the illuminated side is facing away from us; only during solar eclipses are new moons visible. On the bright side, the moon’s absence means a darker night sky and better visibility to see the stars and planets above!
Are black moons rare?
According to Space.com, a black moon is a fairly rare occurrence. The seasonal black moon is more rare than the monthly black moon.
What does a black moon symbolize?
Because a black moon is rare it does hold some spiritual significance–some consider the occurrence of a black moon a time for serious self-reflection, while others think it symbolizes the perfect time to start manifesting your dreams.
How often do black moons occur?
According to Time and Date, the two black moons–monthly and seasonal–occur as follows:
- Monthly black moon: about once every 29 months
- Seasonal black moon: about once every 33 months
When will the next black moon occur?
After tonight’s black moon, two more black moons will rise in the sky in the next couple of years:
- August 23, 2025
- August 31, 2027