Skywatchers are anticipating a black supermoon Wednesday night or early Thursday, but the phenomenon won’t light up the sky this time. That’s because the moon will be in the new moon phase, shadowed by the sun.
A black moon, similar to a blue moon, is the
second new moon in a month or the third in a season with four, IFL Science explained. A supermoon occurs when a full or new moon occurs at the time when it's closest to Earth.
When the supermoon occurs during the full moon stage, it can shine
30 percent brighter and appear 14 percent bigger, Business Insider said.
But this week’s supermoon occurs during the new moon phase, so the moon won’t be shining.
The black supermoon could lead to surging tides, and the San Francisco Bay area is under a coastal flood alert until Thursday.
IFL Science offered advice for experiencing the black supermoon: “Find yourself a location with a good western horizon. Watch for it as the sun is setting and then make sure you stick around as the sky darkens. Mars and Venus will be low in the west and close enough that they can fit in the field of view of most binoculars.”
Twitter users commented about the phenomenon.
Related Stories:
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.