Colloquially, is known as “black moon” and is so named because, well, there will be much to see. During a new moon phase, the moon is invisible to the naked eye, and is going through the same ecliptic plane like the sun, with the illuminated face back to Earth.
black moon on Friday, the first since 2014, is a completely harmless celestial coincidence. But like their counterparts in the moon into blood, the super moon, moon super blood, and so on – all of which have made their way into the popular lexicon in recent years – the black moon has become, for some , a harbinger of the apocalypse.
How, exactly, the second dimming only natural satellite of the Earth in a period of 30 days mark the beginning of the destruction of life as we know it? Unclear. However, some people have taken the bait.
A ‘rare’ black moon is set to rise tonight/ Saturday morning– but what exactly is the lunar event and will we be able to see it?
‘Black Moon Rising’ may sound like the title of an apocalyptic sci-fi film but the astronomical event is unlikely to signal the end of the world, despite the concerns of some doomsayers.
From blood moons to strawberry ones and those of the ‘super’ variety, it can be difficult to keep up with all the different names given to the Earth’s natural satellite.
The latest causing excitement among skygazers is the so-called black moon, however there are several definitions about what it actually is.
Most experts agree the term black moon refers to the second new moon in a calendar month.
It shouldn’t be confused with a blue moon, a phenomenon that occurs when there is a second full moon in one calendar month.
Joe Rao from space.com explains: “A second full moon in a single calendar month is sometimes called a blue moon. A black moon is supposedly the flip side of a blue moon; the second new moon in a single calendar month.”
The last black moon was in March 2014 and the next one after this year’s is expected in 2019.
Time and Date explains: “Black Moon is not a well-known term in the astronomy world. In recent years, the term has been made popular by astrologers and followers of the Wiccan religion.”
It is also defined as:
1. The 3rd new moon in a season of four new moons
So what exactly is a new Black moon?
A new moon occurs every 29.5 days. The moon ‘disappears’ from the sky when it is between the earth and the sun with it’s illuminated side facing away from us.
The black moon event will take place in the early hours of Saturday morning at 1:11am (GMT) for those in the Western Hemisphere.
The black moon will coincide with Halloween for those in the Eastern hemisphere.
Unfortunately, you won’t actually be able to see it as the moon will appear invisible. It will just be very dark.
Does it mean the end of the world?
There’s gonna be a black moon on Friday. I don’t know what that means, but supposedly the end of the world is a likely result.
Don’t worry, it’s very unlikely the black moon with affect your weekend plans, despite doomsayers predicting it could be the end of humanity.
End of the world: Haven’t we been here before?
