What’s a ‘black moon’? Here’s why it’s worth looking up at the sky this week

By Laura Nicole Driessen, Postdoctoral Researcher in Radio Astronomy, University of Sydney

There’s been a lot of buzz online about the August “black moon”, happening later this week.

While you’ve probably heard of a “blue moon” before, this might be the first time you’ve encountered its ominous-sounding counterpart.

You’re not alone. In fact, neither “blue moon” nor “black moon” are astronomical terms. They describe the moments when the lunar calendar and our calendar year fall out of alignment.

So what is a black…

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