Overview

• The United States Naval Observatory confirms the new moon for Aug. 23 at 2:06 a.m. EDT (06:06 GMT).
• This is a seasonal Black Moon, a non‑official nickname marking the extra new moon in northern‑hemisphere summer after new moons on June 25, July 23, Aug. 3 and ahead of Sept. 21.
• The event will not be directly visible because the Moon’s illuminated face points toward the Sun, producing exceptionally dark skies.
• The lack of lunar glare offers prime viewing for faint star clusters, the Milky Way and the closing nights of the Perseid meteor shower.
• A first thin crescent should reappear low in the western sky shortly after sunset on Aug. 24–25.