The only ‘Black Moon’ of 2020 is happening this week and will provide a great chance for stargazers to see more of space.
The Black Moon occurs around every 32 months and sometimes it only affects certain time zones.
It basically means we won’t be able to see the Moon at all but a lack of moonlight will let you see more stars. This year’s Black Moon is happening on August 19 at 02:41 GMT. That’s 22:41 ET the night before for some stargazers in the US.
Black Moon as a phrase can have several meanings.
August 2020’s Black Moon refers to the third New Moon in a season with four new moons. Moon seasons last about three months and usually only feature three new moons.
A New Moon is a phase in the Moon’s cycle in which it can barely be seen from Earth because the side which the Sun does not illuminate is facing us.
The celestial event happens when the Moon passes through the same part of the sky as our closest star. There are more rare times when a New Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, resulting in a solar eclipse. The next total solar eclipse is happening in December 2020.
Black Moon’s may not be as exciting but they do provide an extra chance for stargazers to take advantage of a lack of moonlight.
Astronomy photographers can use the time to get great shots of the Milky Way.
Here are some of the most interesting moon phases and when to see them:
A Blue Moon refers to the occasion when a full moon appears for the second time in the same month, this is very rare and the next Blue Moon should occur on Halloween in 2020. The Harvest Moon appears around the time of the autumnal equinox when farmers tend to do their main crop harvesting. A Supermoon appears when it is at its closest point to Earth and therefore at its brightest, the next one will appear in September. A Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse, the next one should happen in May 2020.
Each month of the year actually has its own special full moon phenomenon, they are as follows:
- January: Wolf Moon
- February: Snow Moon
- March: Worm Moon
- April: Pink Moon
- May: Flower Moon
- June: Strawberry Moon
- July: Buck Moon
- August: Sturgeon Moon
- September: Full Corn Moon
- October: Hunter’s Moon
- November: Beaver Moon
- December: Cold Moon.
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In other space news, a distant galaxy that looks “surprisingly” like our Milky Way has been spotted by astronomers.
A fireball has been filmed soaring across the night sky in Tennessee.
And, another conspiracy theory is claiming the world will end this week.
