• The August 23, 2025 Black Moon is a seasonal Black Moon, the third new moon of summer in a season that contains four new moons (June 25, July 24, Aug. 23, and Sept. 21).
• The last time a seasonal Black Moon with four new moons in a season occurred was May 19, 2023, and it won’t happen again until 2028.
• At 2:06 a.m. EDT (06:06 GMT) on Aug. 23, 2025, the Moon reaches its new moon phase, sitting about 1° north of the Sun in the constellation Leo.
• The Moon rises and sets with the Sun and will be virtually invisible in daylight, so there will be no visible disk during the Black Moon.
• There is no eclipse on Aug. 23 because the Moon passes a bit north of the Sun, not exactly in line with it.
• The night of Aug. 22–23 will be as dark as it gets, with essentially no moonlight.
• Around late August 2025, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible, and Mercury might be seen near the horizon depending on timing.
• The Crescent Moon reappears on Aug. 24–25 as a thin 1–2 day-old crescent low in the western sky after sunset, often with earthshine.
• The term “Black Moon” is folkloric, not an official astronomical term, first widely used around 2016, and is sometimes associated with Wiccan or pagan traditions.
• The event is ideal for astrophotography and dark-sky observing because the absence of moonlight enhances the Milky Way, star clusters, and faint deep-sky objects.

On August 23, the night sky will host an unusual lunar event known as a “Black Moon.” You won’t actually see the Moon at all during this rare occurrence space.com – in fact, that’s the whole point. A Black Moon is essentially an extra new moon in the calendar, a once-in-33-month phenomenon livescience.com that turns the night sky especially dark. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explain what a Black Moon is, why it’s so rare, the astronomy behind it rising with the sun, and how skywatchers can make the most of this August 23 Black Moon. We’ll also touch on cultural and astrological perspectives surrounding this eerie-sounding event (spoiler: it’s not an omen of doom!).

What is a “Black Moon” and Why Is It Rare?

“Black Moon” is not an official astronomy term – it’s more of a modern folklore nickname earthsky.org (much like “Blue Moon”) for an unusual timing of the Moon’s cycle. The Moon goes through a 29.5-day cycle from new to full and back. Usually this means one new moon each month and three new moons per season. A “Black Moon” occurs when the normal pattern gets an extra new moon. Astronomers and skywatchers generally recognize two main types of Black Moon:

• Monthly Black Moon: When a second new moon occurs in a single calendar month. This can happen if a new moon falls in the first day or two of a month, allowing another at the end. Monthly Black Moons occur about once every 29 months (the next one will be Aug. 31, 2027) livescience.com space.com.
• Seasonal Black Moon: When a fourth new moon occurs in a three-month astronomical season (which typically has only three). In this case, the third new moon of that season is dubbed the Black Moon (by analogy to the “extra” Moon) livescience.com space.com. Seasonal Black Moons are a bit rarer, about once every 33 months livescience.com.

August 2025’s Black Moon falls under the seasonal category – it’s the third new moon of the summer season, which unusually contains four new moons (June 25, July 24, Aug. 23, and Sept. 21) livescience.com. Squeezing four new moons into one season is uncommon; the last time it happened was May 19, 2023, and it won’t happen again until 2028 space.com earthsky.org. That makes this Aug. 23 Black Moon a noteworthy once-in-a-few-years event.

It’s worth noting that “Black Moon” has a few other ultra-rare definitions in folklore (for example, February with no new moon at all, which can only happen about every 19 years) smithsonianmag.com en.wikipedia.org. But the two scenarios above (monthly or seasonal extra new moons) are the most commonly meant. And despite the spooky name, nothing literally turns black – the Moon doesn’t change color or behave oddly. In fact, the term “Black Moon” might be more poetic than “Blue Moon,” because during a new moon the Moon is essentially invisible – it’s turned “black” to our eyes, with its dark half facing Earth earthsky.org.

Fun fact: A National Geographic science writer once quipped that a Black Moon “is like the evil twin of a Blue Moon,” highlighting that it’s the new-moon counterpart to the extra full moon phenomenon smithsonianmag.com. But don’t let the nickname spook you – as astronomers assure us, these lunar oddities don’t foreshadow any bad news or apocalypse, despite occasional internet rumors smithsonianmag.com.

Why This Black Moon Rises With the Sun – Astronomical Mechanics

The Black Moon on Aug. 23 is simply a new moon by its astronomical nature. At 2:06 a.m. EDT (06:06 GMT) on August 23, the Moon will officially reach its new moon phase space.com. At that precise moment our natural satellite will be almost in line with the Sun – in fact, sitting about 1° north of the Sun in the constellation Leo space.com. Essentially, the Moon and Sun will rise together that day, move across the sky as a pair, and set together.

Why does this happen? During a new moon phase, the Moon lies roughly between Earth and the Sun, so the side of the Moon lit by the Sun is facing away from us livenowfox.com. All we see (or rather, don’t see) is the Moon’s night side. Because it’s near the Sun’s position in the sky, a new moon “rises and sets with the sun,” lost in the sun’s glare space.com earthsky.org. That’s why you won’t see the Black Moon hanging in the night sky – it will be virtually hidden in daylight.

This also means the night of August 22–23 will be as dark as it gets, with no moonlight at all. If you’re up at night, you won’t see the Moon rise; it’s traveling with the Sun, leaving the overnight hours completely moonless. Nights around any new moon are the darkest, but what makes a Black Moon special is just the rarity of this timing (it’s an extra new moon on the calendar). Other than the calendar quirk, a Black Moon behaves like any new moon.

Does a Black Moon cause anything special? Not physically – there’s no gravitational or tidal difference, and it’s not an eclipse (the Moon will be near the Sun but not covering it). Solar eclipses can only occur during new moons, but only if the Moon aligns exactly with the Sun from our viewpoint smithsonianmag.com smithsonianmag.com. In this case, the Moon passes a bit north of the Sun, so no eclipse will occur on Aug. 23. The main effect is simply extra-dark nights – a treat for stargazers!

Stargazing in Darkness: Will the Black Moon Be Visible?

By definition, you cannot see a Black Moon itself. Since it’s a perfectly dark new moon, there is no illuminated portion to spot with your eyes or even a telescope space.com. As one astronomer put it, “the new moon’s sunlit side faces away from Earth, making the surface invisible from Earth” livescience.com. So don’t expect a dramatic “black disc” rising – the Moon will be essentially absent from the sky.

However, skywatchers should still get excited. The invisibility of the Moon means the sky will be moonless and extra dark, offering ideal conditions for observing everything else! livenowfox.com In fact, the nights of August 22–23 (and a few nights after) may be among the darkest of the year, since moonlight won’t wash out the stars. Here’s what you can do and see under a Black Moon:

• Gaze at the Milky Way: Late summer is perfect for Milky Way viewing. With no moon, the Milky Way’s dense starry band will shine prominently across the sky livescience.com. From the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way’s bright core is visible in the south on summer nights – and without moonlight, you might see its dusty details clearer than usual. Find a dark location and look for the Summer Triangle (the three bright stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair); the Milky Way flows right through this area livescience.com.
• See More Stars & Constellations: The absence of glare allows fainter stars and constellations to pop out. Under a truly dark sky, hundreds or even thousands of stars become visible. For example, normally hard-to-see constellations or star clusters can be spotted if you’re away from city lights livenowfox.com. It’s a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with the summer constellations or find deep-sky objects with binoculars.
• Enjoy the Planets: Several planets will adorn the sky and appear even brighter against a dark background. Around late August 2025, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are among the bright planets visible at night or dawn, and even elusive Mercury might be spotted near the horizon, depending on timing livenowfox.com. Without moonlight, these planets shine like clear beacons. Venus (if it’s in the evening or morning sky at that time) will be extremely bright, and Saturn and Jupiter can be observed all night when above the horizon. (Tip: A small telescope will reveal Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s moons even better under dark skies.)
• Watch for Meteors: If any meteor showers or random “shooting stars” occur around the Black Moon, dark skies dramatically improve your chances of seeing them economictimes.indiatimes.com. In late August there’s no major meteor shower (the Perseids peaked earlier in the month), but stray meteors or minor showers will be much easier to catch without moonlight. Keep an eye out for any faint streaks across the sky – they won’t have competition from a bright Moon.
• Astrophotography: Photographers, take note – a Black Moon night is perfect for astrophotography. With a long exposure, you can capture starry skies, nebulae, or the Milky Way without the Moon bleaching the darkness. It’s also a chance to get creative shots of star trails or nocturnal landscapes with starlight.

In short, the Black Moon itself isn’t seen, but it acts as a cosmic “lights-off” switch, allowing the rest of the universe to shine. As Space.com put it, don’t be disappointed at the Moon’s absence – the days immediately after the Black Moon will unveil one of the most beautiful sights: the thinnest crescent moon and a fully star-studded sky space.com.

How and When to Observe the Black Moon’s Aftermath

Even though the Black Moon is invisible at its peak on Aug. 22–23, you can still witness its aftermath. A day or two after the new moon, the Moon will return to view as a delicate crescent. Here are some observing tips for this special period and for making the most of the dark skies:

• Mark Your Calendar: The new moon moment is August 23, 2025 at 06:06 UTC (2:06 a.m. EDT). For time zones west of UTC (like the Americas), that falls in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 23 (or late night Aug. 22 in Pacific Time) space.com. The darkest nights will be Aug. 22, 23, and 24 – with essentially no Moon visible. Plan a stargazing outing on one of those nights for the best darkness.
• Find a Dark-Sky Spot: Go to the darkest location you can, away from city lights and pollution. The difference can be dramatic – under rural skies, the Milky Way becomes clearly visible livescience.com. If possible, choose a spot with a wide view of the horizon and minimal light interference. (As an example, stargazers often recommend having no cities or bright lights toward the southern horizon when hunting for the Milky Way’s core livescience.com.)
• Look for the Crescent Moon on Aug. 24–25: The first sliver of Moon will reappear low on the western horizon after sunset a couple of days after the Black Moon. On the evenings of August 24 and 25, start watching about 30–40 minutes after sunset, and you might catch a faint silver crescent very low in the west space.com. It will be a young Moon only 1–2 days old – a lovely but fleeting sight. (Bring binoculars to help spot it in the twilight glow.) This thin crescent will also exhibit a gentle earthshine (the dark side softly lit by reflection from Earth).
• Use Binoculars or a Telescope: While you won’t need any equipment to enjoy the dark sky, having binoculars or a small telescope can enhance the experience economictimes.indiatimes.com. Binoculars will help you pick out star clusters, nebulae, or the glowing star clouds of the Milky Way. A telescope can reveal planets in more detail or uncover faint deep-sky objects that are normally washed out by moonlight.
• Check Sunset and Moonset Times: Timing is key if you want to see the young crescent. Check your local sunset time for Aug. 24–25 and be ready to scan the horizon shortly afterward economictimes.indiatimes.com. The crescent will set not long after the Sun does, so you have at most an hour to catch it. Knowing when the Moon sets in your area on those days can help you plan.

Above all, be patient and let your eyes adapt to the darkness. It takes 20–30 minutes for human vision to fully adjust and reveal the faintest stars. Once adapted, you’ll be amazed at how much the Black Moon’s dark sky reveals – from the glimmer of the Milky Way to perhaps even a faint satellite or two crawling among the stars.

Cultural, Historical, and Astrological Significance

The term “Black Moon” might sound ominous or mystical, and indeed it has some roots in folklore and modern cultural usage. Here are a few perspectives on the significance of a Black Moon outside of astronomy:

• Folklore & Origin of the Term: Unlike scientific terms, Black Moon is a product of popular culture. In fact, the phrase wasn’t widely used until the 2010s – it was first recorded around 2016 in media coverage of an extra new moon en.wikipedia.org. Its usage has grown by analogy to the well-known “Blue Moon.” Some writers trace the idea back further in niche circles; for example, there’s anecdotal mention that the term may have appeared in Wiccan or pagan traditions as a special name for a rare dark moon earthsky.org. An astronomy blogger, Sten Odenwald, suggested the concept might have come from Wiccan culture, where moon phases can have spiritual import earthsky.org. So in essence, we the people invented “Black Moon” – it’s folklore, not official astronomy earthsky.org. Just as “Blue Moon” became popular through folklore (thanks to a misinterpretation in the 1940s), “Black Moon” has gained currency in the internet age as a catchy way to describe an extra new moon.
• Astrological and Spiritual Views: In astrology and modern spiritual practices, any new moon is seen as a time of new beginnings, reflection, and intention-setting – and a Black Moon can amplify that symbolism. Some astrologers view a Black Moon as a doubly potent new moon, since it’s an extra occurrence of that phase. For instance, the August 23, 2025 Black Moon occurs in the zodiac sign of Leo (as the Sun is in Leo in late August). Astrologically, a new moon in Leo might be associated with creativity, self-expression, and “new chapter” energy – and having a rare Black Moon in Leo could be billed as an especially powerful time to set intentions or embark on projects (at least, in the eyes of astrology enthusiasts). In Wiccan or pagan practice, a Black Moon is often considered a powerful moment for rituals or magic, when spells and intentions are thought to be more effective – though interestingly, some traditions advise against performing rituals during a Black Moon due to its intensity en.wikipedia.org. In folklore, you might even hear the phrase “once in a Black Moon” to mean a very rare occasion, paralleling “once in a Blue Moon.”
• Cultural and Historical Notes: Historically, because the term is so new, there isn’t ancient lore specifically about “Black Moons” the way there is for superstitions around eclipses or full moons. However, cultures around the world have always noted the new moon as a time of renewal. The Old Farmer’s Almanac – famous for preserving moon folklore – notes that some farming traditions consider the dark phase of the Moon (new moon) an auspicious time for planting certain crops (especially those that grow above ground) because of lore about the Moon’s influence on moisture and growth townlift.com. A Black Moon, being an extra dark moon, by extension is sometimes said to double-down on that idea of renewal and new beginnings. In some cultural interpretations, a Black Moon arriving (especially if near a transition like end of year or season) can symbolize a “reset” moment – a time to reflect, make wishes, or start fresh townlift.com.

Importantly, scientists emphasize that a Black Moon has no supernatural effect – it’s a neat calendrical rarity but “nothing happens, except the usual new moon absence of any moon in the sky” inverse.com. So any meaning beyond astronomy is in the eye of the beholder. That said, stargazers definitely “believe” in one thing about the Black Moon: it’s a superb opportunity to connect with the night sky. Rather than signaling doom, this Black Moon invites us to enjoy a star-filled night in all its glory.

Bottom Line

The August 23, 2025 Black Moon is a rare lunar event that underscores the fascinating quirks of our Moon’s cycle. It’s essentially an extra new moon – the third new moon in a season that normally has three, making it a seasonal Black Moon livescience.com space.com. While the Moon itself will be invisible (rising and setting in tandem with the Sun space.com), this Black Moon brings us something special: an ink-black night sky perfect for stargazing. From the sparkling Milky Way to bright planets and beyond, the absence of moonlight on August 22–23 will let the rest of the cosmos shine extra bright livenowfox.com.

So, if skies are clear, take advantage of this “once in a Black Moon” opportunity. Find a dark spot, look up, and marvel at the universe’s celestial light show. And when someone mentions the Black Moon rising, you can explain exactly what it means – and why you were out enjoying the stars during one of the darkest nights of summer!

Sources: NASA/Space.com (astronomy news) space.com space.com, Live Science livescience.com livescience.com, EarthSky.org earthsky.org earthsky.org, Smithsonian Magazine smithsonianmag.com, Fox News/LiveNOW livenowfox.com livenowfox.com, Wikipedia (Black Moon definitions and folklore) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org, Old Farmer’s Almanac via TownLift News townlift.com.