Tonight, some lucky sky-gazers will be treated to a rare astronomical display, in the form of a black super new moon.
The event will see the moon ‘disappear’ in the night sky, making the skies especially dark.
While this darkness may sound eerie, it actually provides the perfect opportunity to stargaze – so make sure you have your telescope at the ready!
Here’s everything you need to know about the black supermoon, including what it is, and where you can see it.
What is a black moon?
A black moon is the second new moon in the same month.
Black Moons take place about once every 29th month, but because of the time zones, the month they happen in can vary.
This means that tonight’s Black Moon will only take place in the US, while the UK one will take place next month.
During a new moon, the moon and sun have the same elliptical longitude, meaning the lunar disk is not visible from Earth.
Because the moon isn’t visible, the surrounding stars appear more prominent in the night sky – so get looking for the big constellations!
Why is it a supermoon?
Tonight's particular black moon is also a supermoon, as the moon will be a its nearest point to Earth this evening.
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