Astronomers refer to the second full moon that occurs in a given month as a “Blue Moon.” Both the name and the definition are relatively new. Folklorist Philip Hiscock dated the present use of the name “Blue Moon” to the late 20th century in a 1999 paper. It appears that astronomy enthusiasts and journalists have started referring to the second new moon in a month as the Black Moon. The Black Moon is scheduled for August 22–23, 2025. However, its definition is a little different, even if it still adheres to the Blue Moons guidelines.
In other words, the third of four full moons in a season can also be a Blue Moon. Apparently, Black Moons may, too. Who makes these decisions? Yes, we do! It’s not official astronomy; it’s folklore. It implies that we, the people, make the decisions.
Thus, August 22–23 will mark the next Black Moon. The regulations are the same for both blue and black moons. Additionally, professional folklorists have researched the contemporary definition of Blue Moons.
However, where did the phrase “Black Moon” originate?
What is it?
The histories of black and blue moons are quite different. The origin of Blue Moons was an error in a 1946 Sky & Telescope magazine article. When referring to the second of two full moons in a month as a “Blue Moon,” a writer misquoted the Old Farmer’s Almanac. This second-full-moon-per-month definition was also adopted and popularized by other astronomy writers in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s (see the Hiscock page for further information on how Blue Moons gained popularity).
However, it wasn’t until — well, I’m not sure when — that Black Moons actually appeared on the astronomical scene. yet not as recently as Blue Moons.
However, I remember reading about Black Moons a few decades back in Sten Odenwald’s excellent site, The Astronomy Cafe. How many decades? I couldn’t tell you that. I looked for Sten to ask, but I was unable to locate him. According to what I remember, he claimed that the name “Black Moon” originated in Wiccan culture. When I questioned ChatGPT this past weekend, it also brought up the relationship.
This year, I’ve also read on the StarWalk website that the phrase “Black Moon” is used when there isn’t a new moon for a month. Every month, there is usually a new moon and a full moon. In my fifty years of writing about the night sky, I had never heard of that term of Black Moon. Well, there you have it. The people will possess it!
When is it?
This month’s new moon, also known as the 2025 seasonal Black Moon, will occur on August 23 at 6:06 UTC (1:06 a.m. CDT). Therefore, depending on your time zone, it may fall on August 22 for you.
Like all new moons, a black moon is invisible from Earth’s sky. When the moon spends that month’s orbit roughly between the Earth and the sun, it is considered new. Therefore, the lit areas, or day sides, of new moons are completely turned away from Earth. Additionally, the moon moves across our sky near the sun with each new moon as the Earth rotates beneath the sky. New moons are visible to everyone on Earth during the day.
However, when the moon isn’t there, the night is darker and there are more stars to see, making new moon time a fantastic time to go stargazing. This is particularly true if you go to a location with a dark sky.
Black Moon fun facts
About once every 29 months, there is a monthly black moon. The second of two new moons in a calendar month is referred to as a “Black Moon.”
Approximately once every 33 months, there is a seasonal black moon. We are experiencing a Black Moon, which is defined as the third of four new moons in a season, on August 22–23.
Before this August 2025 Black Moon, the last seasonal Black Moon occurred on May 19, 2023. The following one is scheduled for August 20, 2028.
The Black Moon occurred on December 30–31, 2024. Additionally, August 31, 2027, will mark the next monthly Black Moon.
Blue Moon is a misleading name. During these full moons, the moon doesn’t appear blue. However, the moon is visible during the day, therefore the moniker Black Moon is a little more true for the night sky. Additionally, if you consider the moon’s actual body, around the time of the new moon, its darker half faces Earth.
More cool Black Moon events
A super Black Moon is scheduled for August 20, 2028. Perigee, the moon’s closest point to Earth during that month, will almost coincide with the new moon. Go here to learn more about supermoons.
If you accept that no new moon is a Black Moon, then we will experience three consecutive Black Moons in 2033. To put it another way, the new moons on January 30 and March 30 of 2033 will be the second consecutive month. Additionally, February won’t see a new moon. That’s a Black Moon triple whammy for sincere believers!
Bottom line: August 22–23, 2025, will be a Black Moon. One particular type of new moon is called a Black Moon. Go here to learn more about Black Moons.
