A black moon will soon hover over SC. Here’s when and what that means

Sarah Claire McDonald
·3 min read

A rare ‘black moon’ is set to occur in the night sky overhead tonight.

Although this may sound a bit gloomy, it’s not as ominous or menacing as it may sound.

However, if you are hoping to catch a glimpse of tonight’s black moon, you’re out of luck as they are seemingly invisible.

A new moon is a moon phase that cannot be seen from Earth. This is because only the far side of the moon is illuminated, timeanddate.com states.

During a new moon, the moon appears to be black, as the occurrence happens when the moon’s dark or unilluminated side faces Earth, giving the appearance that there is nothing to see.

What is a black moon?

A black moon is a special term for a certain kind of new moon.

Although the term isn’t an official astronomical term, it serves as a representative phrase for an unusual lunar calendar occurrence.

There can be several different definitions for a black moon. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, these include:

  • The second new moon in a month. This is the most common and frequently used definition of a black moon. This occurs about once every 29 months.

  • The third new moon occurring in a season of four new moons. Each of the four seasons has three months and three new moons. Yet, occasionally, about every 33 months, there is a season with four new moons. When this happens, the third new moon is referred to as a black moon.

  • When there are no new moons occurring in a month. This specific definition can only happen in the month of February. This is because it is the only calendar month that is shorter than the lunar month. When there is not a new moon in February, there will be two new moons for both January and March, the Old Farmer’s Almanac states. This rare occurrence only happens approximately every 19 years. The next occurrence according to this definition will not happen until the year 2033.

  • Every new moon can be considered a black moon. This is because during this moon phase we can only see the moon’s dark or unilluminated side.

When is the next black moon?

Although you won’t be able to see it, May 19 is the third new moon of this season, which makes tonight’s new moon a black moon by that definition.

The new moon dates for this season — this season being spring — are March 21, April 20, May 19 and June 18.

If we go by the more frequently used description of the first definition, two new moons in a single month, black moons are on the more rare side. This is because that phenomenon only occurs approximately once every 29 months, detailed Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Upcoming black moons, excluding those by definition of every new moon, include:

  • May 19, 2023: The third new moon in a season with four new moons.

  • December 30, 2024: The second new moon in a single calendar month. The first will occur on December 1, 2024.

  • August 23, 2025: The third new moon in a season with four new moons.