Overview

• The new moon peaks around 2:06 a.m. ET on August 23, rendering the Moon unseen from Earth.
• The event fits the seasonal definition of a black moon as the third of four new moons between the June solstice and September equinox.
• Scientists note the term is not official astronomy; it stems from calendar quirks rather than a distinct physical phenomenon.
• Because the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, its sunlit side faces away, so observers get darker conditions ideal for the Milky Way, the Dumbbell Nebula, and planets like Venus, Mars, and Saturn.
• Forecasts point to the next monthly black moon on August 31, 2027, and the next seasonal one on August 20, 2028.