There’s another rare astrological event happening this month, but the “Black Moon” is the one that has people talking
The astrological event is just the latest of many this year(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Astronomers, both professional and novice, have their eyes on the Moon this week. Not one, but two astounding astrological events are due to take place soon across our skies.
We’ve had some stunning moon events so far this year. The Strawberry Moon prompted some brilliant sights over Whitley Bay, and will the first Blood Moon in 3 years happening in September, it’s never been a better time to point a telescope at the sky.
The full Sturgeon Moon illuminates the skies in just a few days. However, there’s also a rare phenomenon occurring that you won’t see: a ‘Black Moon’ will take place on August 23, marking the only one of its kind this year.
Unlike the terms ‘full Moon’ or ‘new Moon’, a ‘Black Moon’ isn’t an official astronomical term. Instead, it refers to a rare occurrence in the lunar calendar, typically involving an extra new Moon in a month or season.
It is the new Moon’s equivalent of a ‘Blue Moon’, which is an additional full Moon in a month or season. This rarity led to the expression “once in a Blue Moon.”
This month’s event is known as a seasonal Black Moon. Typically, each season has three new Moons, but occasionally a fourth one occurs, and the third of these is referred to as a Black Moon.
The last Black Moon happened just eight months ago in December 2024, and that was a monthly occurrence, meaning it was the second new Moon within a single calendar month.
According to Starwalk, the next Black Moon will occur in 2027, following the new Moon on August 2, which will also coincide with a spectacular six-minute-long total solar eclipse.
Can you see a Black Moon?
Black Moons are a type of new Moon that occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Sun and the Earth. This alignment causes its sunlit side to face away from us, rendering it invisible in the night sky. While the Moon itself won’t be visible, its absence creates some of the darkest skies of the month. For stargazers and astrophotographers, this is an ideal opportunity to spot faint celestial objects like the Milky Way, planets, or deep-sky objects.
The Sturgeon Moon
If you’d prefer to catch a glimpse of a glowing Moon, this week is your chance. The full Sturgeon Moon will appear on August 9, named after the time of year when sturgeon fish—large, prehistoric-looking creatures—were most commonly caught in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Sturgeon Moon will peak at 8:54 AM BST on Saturday, August 9, after which the Moon will have set. The best time to see the full Moon rise is around 9 PM on August 9, depending on your location in the UK. It will rise in the southeast and set in the west-southwest around 7 AM on August 10.
Like this summer’s Strawberry Moon and Buck Moon, the Sturgeon Moon won’t rise very high above the horizon, meaning it could be tricky to observe.