Texarkana: The Black Moon Is Coming This Weekend, But You’ll Never See It

We've had a lot of spectacular celestial events lately, with meteor showers and planet alignments. Now get ready for the next one. This weekend it's the Black Moon. We will be able to experience it in Texas and Arkansas. It's a pretty cool event, but you'll never really see it. Confused yet?

The Black Moon Explained

It takes place this weekend, on Friday night and into early Saturday morning (August 22–23). The Black Moon is the second new moon that takes place in a single calendar month. It is pretty rare as this only happens about once every 33 months.

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What is Happening on a Black Moon

According to space.com

During the new moon phase, the moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, so its unlit side faces us, rendering it invisible against the bright sky.

 

Read More: Did Science Just Discover Life on Venus? Maybe

How to Observe the Black Moon You Can't See in Texas and Arkansas

Without the moon's light, the night will be darker, and it will be perfect for stargazing.

The next Black Moon won't take place until August 31, 2027.

When to See the Moon Again

After the Black Moon, you can see it reemerge on Monday, August 25 and Tuesday, the 26 when it reappears as a super thin crescent moon. To see it, you'll need to look to the western horizon about 30 to 40 minutes after sunset.

So when you walk out on Friday night and you think it looks extra dark outside, it is!  to get the full effect, you should get away from city lights and see just how dark the sky can be. This is also a great time to see other stars shine brighter because of the moonless night.