Rare Astronomical Event: Black Moon
First in 11 Years Since March 2014
On the 23rd, a rare astronomical phenomenon known as the 'Black Moon' will appear in the night sky.
On the 21st (local time), the American space science media outlet Space.com reported that this year's Black Moon is predicted to occur at 6:06 a.m. GMT on the 23rd of this month (3:00 p.m. KST on August 23). However, since this will be in the afternoon in Korea, it is expected to be difficult to observe with the naked eye.
Although 'Black Moon' is not an official astronomical term, it refers to a new moon that occurs when the sun and the moon align in the same direction, causing the moon to be invisible from Earth, and this new moon phase happens twice in one month. This phenomenon is rare, occurring in cycles of about 32 months. The last Black Moon worldwide was in March 2014.
After August 23, the next expected Black Moon occurrences are August 31, 2027, at 5:41 p.m. (GMT), followed by August 20, 2028, and June 30, 2030.
In Western cultures, the Black Moon has been regarded as an omen related to the end of the world or the Second Coming of Jesus.
The media outlet explained, "The new moon phase creates a dark night sky without moonlight, providing optimal conditions for observing faint deep-space objects that are difficult or impossible to see when the bright moon is present." It also stated, "This period is especially favorable for studying the dense central region of the Milky Way."
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