Tue Dec 31 08:15:26 UTC 2024: ## Rare ‘Black Moon’ to Darken Skies on December 31st

**New Delhi, India** – Stargazers around the globe are preparing for a celestial treat, albeit one that’s invisible to the naked eye: a Black Moon. This rare phenomenon, defined as the occurrence of two new moons within a single calendar month, will grace the skies on December 31st, 2024.

While not an officially recognized astronomical event, the Black Moon has captured the public’s imagination. According to the US Naval Observatory, the event will be visible at 5:27 pm ET (2227 GMT) on December 30th for some regions, but for most including India, it will occur around 3:57 am on December 31st. The timing varies based on geographical location. Note that parts of the US and Canada already experienced a Black Moon on November 30th.

Despite its name, a Black Moon isn’t a dramatic, visible event. It occurs because the Moon’s roughly 29.5-day cycle doesn’t perfectly align with the lengths of calendar months. This mismatch occasionally results in two new moons in a single month. Black Moons are not exceptionally uncommon, occurring approximately every 29 months. However, a “seasonal Black Moon” (four new moons in one season) is rarer, happening around every 33 months.

Because a new moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, its unilluminated side faces Earth, making it invisible. This darkness, however, offers an excellent opportunity for amateur astronomers to observe other celestial objects like galaxies and nebulae. Future Black Moons are predicted for August 23rd, 2025 (part of a four-new-moon season), and August 31st, 2027.

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