You’ve heard the term “once in a blue moon,” but you may not know of a black moon.
A black moon will be in the night sky later this month, according to timeanddate.com.
It’s a special kind of moon phase — and if you want to spot one, you’re out of luck. Black moons are invisible.
So while you won’t be able to see it, the next black moon will be in the sky on Aug. 23.
Black moons are typically the opposite of a blue moon, which is when we’re able to view two full moons in the same month.
Black moons are monthly or seasonal, according to timeanddate.com.
A monthly black moon is defined as the second new moon in a single calendar month. This is the most common black moon, and it occurs about once every 29 months.
A seasonal black moon is defined as the third new moon in a season of four new moons. These black moons are a bit rarer and occur about once every 33 months, according to timeanddate.com.
August’s black moon is considered a seasonal one.
Like any other new moon, it will be invisible in the sky, because the moon is between the Earth and the sun in its orbit. Its non-illuminated side faces Earth, and only the far side is illuminated.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.