A Rare Black Moon Is Coming—and It Offers a Special Stargazing Opportunity

Later this month, a rare celestial phenomenon will take place in the night sky—the New Moon will be what is known as a seasonal Black Moon.

According to Time and Date, the Black Moon is predicted to occur on August 22 and 23. This event refers to the third New Moon in an astronomical season of four, instead of the typical three. It occurs approximately every 33 months, with the next one scheduled for August 20, 2028.

An astronomical season is the three-month period from one solstice or equinox to the next. We’re currently in astronomical summer, which began June 21 and ends on September 22.

Also of note, a monthly Black Moon, as opposed to a seasonal one, is when two New Moons occur in a single calendar month, with the second New Moon considered the Black Moon. This is slightly more common than the seasonal kind and happens roughly once every 29 months on average.

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Because it’s a New Moon—which is when the moon is between Earth and the sun with its unlit side facing us—it won't be visible in the sky, but it will create an ideal time for stargazing. The brightness of the moon often washes out faint celestial objects, making them hard to spot. This natural blackout will reveal details of the Milky Way and star clusters with spectacular clarity, especially when using binoculars or a telescope.

The dark skies might even allow you to catch the end of the Perseids meteor shower, which wraps up around August 24. The shooting stars are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours, though it is possible to see them as early as 10 p.m.

If you're in the Western U.S. and Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and Northwestern Mexico, the Black Moon will take place before midnight on August 22. For the rest of the world, including parts of Eastern and Central U.S., it will occur after midnight on August 23.