And When Is the Next Black Moon?
It’s a “Black Moon”! This sounds ominous, but it’s not. Find out what a Black Moon is, when the next Black Moon occurs, and special symbolism and folklore.
What is a Black Moon?
A Black Moon is a special kind of New Moon, just as a Blue Moon is a special kind of Full Moon. Neither are astronomical terms; both are catch phrases for an unusual lunar calendar occurrence. For this reason, the definition of a Black Moon can vary and may refer to…
- …the second new Moon in a month. This is the definition of Black Moon that’s used most often, and it’s the most common (once every 29 months).
- …the third new Moon in a season of four New Moons. Every season (spring, summer, fall, winter) has 3 months and 3 new Moons. However, occasionally (every 33 months), there is a season with 4 new Moons. In this case, the third New Moon is called a Black Moon.
- …when there are NO new Moons in a month (February). This can only happen in February since it’s the only calendar month that is shorter (28 days) than the lunar month. When there is not a new Moon in February, there will be two new Moons for both January and March. It’s a rare occurrence (every 19 years or so), and the next one isn’t until 2033.
- …every new Moon, since we’re then seeing the Moon’s dark or black side.
When is the Next Black Moon?
If we go by the most popular “two new Moons in a single month” definition, Black Moons are slightly rare, occurring once every 29 months (2 to 4 years). The next Black Moons are:
Read Next
| Year | Date | Type |
| 2024 | December 30 | Second New Moon in a single calendar month |
| 2025 | August 23 | Third New Moon in a season with four New Moons |
Note: Black Moons vary by time zone. See the Moon phases for your location.
What Will You See During a Black Moon?
Black Moons are invisible, like all new Moons, so you won’t see the Moon itself!
Did You Know: The new Moon always rises near sunrise and crosses the sky with the Sun during the day, so the glare of the Sun is too strong to allow us to see the Moon. See our handy chart on “When Will the Moon Rise Tonight?”
Remember, there are four quarters of the Moon—the Moon phases. There’s usually a new Moon and a full Moon about once a month, because the Moon takes about a month to orbit Earth.
- With the “full Moon,” the entire disk of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun (because the two celestial objects are on opposite sides of the sky).
- In contrast, the “new Moon” has its dark side facing us. It’s not reflecting any of the Sun’s light because the Moon is lined up between the Earth and Sun. Only the far side of the Moon is illuminated, and we can’t see this side from Earth.
See the Moon phases for your location here.
Stars Look Brighter
Although you can’t see the Black Moon, the good news is that a moonless sky is excellent for stargazing (since the Moon’s light won’t drown out the stars).
A day or two after the new Moon, you’ll see the slim crescent Moon in the west after sunset. This is such a magical moment. Often you’ll not only see the crescent but also the darkened area of the Moon’s disk shining dimly. The reflected light is called Earthshine.
The Tides Are Stronger
The gravitational influence of the Moon creates tides. And when it’s the new Moon or full Moon, there is even more of an effect on tides.
This happens because the Sun and Earth are in alignment at the times of the new Moon or full Moon. This creates extra-high high tides as well as extra-low low tides—both commonly called spring tides.
Black Moon Influence
As the Black Moon is a new Moon, there are some special practices and folklore associated with this time of the lunar cycle.
- For example, according to the age-old practice of Gardening by the Moon, one should plant vegetables that bear crops above ground during the light: from the day the Moon is new to the day it is full.
- There is also folklore about the new Moon and good luck. Some folks considered this to be a special time when any activities are more powerful and effective, while others believe this is a time when activities should not be conducted!
- Of course, there are also religions which follow a lunar calendar and pay special attention to the new Moon. After the Moon’s absence for a few days, it’s kind of a lunar rebirth. Thus, some cultures revolved ceremonies around that first appearance of the new Moon.
Bob Berman
ADVERTISEMENT
I remember when my daughter came home from first grade. I asked her what she learned at school today. She told me she learned about the phases of the Moon. I asked her "Well, what are the phases of the Moon?" She told me new moon, quarter moon, half moon, 3/4 moon, Gibbous Moon and full moon.
I asked her, "What's a gibbous moon?" She replied it's between 3/4 and full. I asked her, "Why do they call it a gibbous moon? Is it gibbous a couple more days and it will be full?"
The next day she came home with a note from her teacher requesting a parent teacher conference.
Hi, Paul, My first thought reading your comment was to recollect my own experiences (as parent and also teacher) with today's education system "dumbing things down." But then it registered: first grade? I *then* thought, wow, maybe the teacher's right; that's a bit young to get so technical. But then I thought, wait: why is a first grade teacher teaching about a Gibbous moon to begin with? - or, really, the concept of "phases of the moon" at all? Were I the principal, I'd send a note to both the teacher and you requesting a friendly conference to first express my appreciation for your attention to children's science education and then to introduce the idea of "developmentally appropriate curriculum." I'm aware there are differences of opinion here. As for my own, with children of that young age I'd have more of an objective to inspire students to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the moon, first and foremost (for parents) via some "moon gazing" over the course of a season, having children experience firsthand those "six phases." Ha, ha, what they'd actually observe would be only continuous, gradual changes--- in an endless cycle! On a moonlit night children might be encouraged to go back inside and put pencil to paper and sketch a landscape. Personally, besides the old poem that even very young children could learn: "I see the moon, and the moon sees me. God bless the moon, and God bless me," I'd read aloud and maybe have them memorize Robert Louis Stevenson's poem The Moon, in "A Child's Garden of Verses." There are also moon proverbs and myths to share: the Old Farmer's Almanac is a great source for that (too!). Parents needn't be concerned. There's plenty of time for the rest, a more intellectual understanding of the moon. Hopefully by then children would have established something of a personal connection and have reason to care. :)
" The New Moon has always denoted 'new beginnings'
all round our dear earth or terra , through the
centuries .
The New Moon or the 'Mysterious Celestial Orb'
signifies a favourable time to start new beginnings
in any part of life .
The moon reflects the 'soul' of whatever living
entity on terra or whatever planetary system .
Being born under any phase of the moon helps
define that entity for its astounding life cycle .
- Niels E. Windthorst - 2 July , 2019 "
Hi I was up putting my cat out on July 21. When I looked up in the morning sky. Usually take sunrise pictures or sunsets so I had my camera with me. Anyways what I saw I thought was an eclipse, but turns out to be an black moon. I took pictures of it until it was almost totally the full moon covered. The a cloud went infront of it blocking out my picture taking. This was at 4:41 am Central standard time. I also was getting swarmed by mosquitos. I took some more pictures of this from my upstairs bedroom window after the cloud went away. I live in Vermilion Bay, Ontario. Canada.
I've taken pictures of the solar eclipse before too.
The article states that " the “new Moon” has its dark side facing us." The dark side never faces us, that's why it's called the dark side.
The article does continue the explanation correctly, thank heavens.
The article is correct in referring to the Moon's dark side facing the Earth during a new Moon. You are thinking that the article refers to the *far* side of the Moon, which it does not. I am sure Rob Bergman is very careful in his terminology with "far side" vs "dark side".
When the Sun illuminates the moon, there are two sides: the dark side and the sunlit side. During the full Moon, the sunlit side faces the Earth; during the new Moon, the dark side faces the Earth.
My grandfather always call the New Moon "The Black Moon". Also, I would like to add my grandfathers other moon comment. When the moon looked like it was holding water, was not a good time to go fishing. When the moon looked like it was dumping water, was the best to go fishing. Last but not least, three days before and after a New Moon, or Full Moon were also good times to go fishing. Thanks for your time. Lee........
I like the idea of calling the new moon of every month a Black Moon. I hadn't heard anyone calling this occasion a Black Moon, but it sounds like a wonderful marketing opportunity - tee shirts, jewelry, beer....
