What is Black Moon
What is Black Moon ? when in a single calendar month there are two new moons. Although it is not a term of astronomy, it is commonly used for the description of this event. It is very much similar to the definition for a Blue Moon, describing the presence of a second full moon within a calendar month.
To understand the Black Moon, we first have to know what a new moon is. A new moon is when the moon lies between the Earth and the Sun. Thus, the side of the moon that is lit by the Sun is away from Earth, and the moon cannot be seen from ur viewpoint. The Black Moon is a rare occurrence of having two new moons in one calendar month.
So, what exactly is a Black Moon?
It’s a term used to describe this unusual occurrence of having two new moons within one month. A new moon is when the moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, making it invisible to our eyes since the side facing us is not lit. Just like a Blue Moon refers to two full moons in a month, the Black Moon refers to two new moons.
While new moons happen every month, having two in the same month is much less common, making the Black Moon a unique event. The last one was in August 2022, and the next will be in May 2026, which adds to its rarity. Because the Black Moon is not visible, it has an air of mystery that attracts both casual fans and serious astronomers.
Black Moon rare occurrence
Although a new moon occurs every month, the occurrence of two new moons in the same month is not common. This infrequency makes the Black Moon special, and it does not occur annually. The last time a Black Moon occurred was in August 2022, and the next one will be in May 2026. This is rare, combined with the fact that the Black Moon is invisible to the naked eye, which gives it an aura of mystique that attracts both casual observers and professional astronomers.
Timing and Visibility
On this date, the new moon exactly, and thus Black Moon, will be at 4:26 p.m. CST (22:26 UTC) on December 30, 2024. And for Indians, the exact time will be 3:57 am IST on December 31, 2024.
Like other new moons, the Black Moon will not be observable by the naked eye. During a new moon, the lit side of the moon faces away from Earth, and its shadowed side faces the Earth. So no reflected light will be sent to Earth, and the moon will be invisible. The Invisibility of the Black Moon is an interesting phenomenon both to astronomers and sky enthusiasts since, instead of seeing something, one perceives what it means that there is a new moon happening in the same month, once in a year or less.
Is Black Moon visible in India?
The Black Moon itself is nowhere to be seen on Earth, not even in India, since it is at the new moon phase, meaning the moon is positioned between Earth and the Sun. And the position of the moon would make it turn its backside toward Earth, left unlit by the Sun, thus it cannot be seen with human eyes .
But the Black Moon does Indeed indirectly affect the night sky. Since at this phase, there is no moonlight, it creates darker skies-that makes this an ideal time for stargazing, observing distant celestial bodies like galaxies, nebulae, and planets.
The Black Moon in India is on December 31, 2024, according to IST. As the moon will not be observable, the black moon would present wonderful skywatching opportunities over a dark sky.
The black moon, therefore, is in itself invisible but yet offers an excellent sky watching opportunity.
