The rare 'black moon' of December 30 rises on Dec 30.

in blurt-1787181 •  20 days ago  (edited)

The rare 'black moon' of December 30 rises December 30 2024.

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December 2024 will see a rare "black moon," a term for the second new moon in a calendar month.

The second new moon of December will occur at 5:27 p.m. ET (2227 GMT) on Dec. 30, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory, two days after the waning moon passes by Mercury in the predawn sky.

A second new moon is sometimes called a "black moon," just as two full moons in a month is sometimes called a "blue moon"  — though neither is a true astronomical term.

Visible Planets

On the night of the new moon itself, Mercury will be just visible in the dawn skies on Dec. 31, rising at 5:45 a.m. in New York. Sunrise isn't until 7:20 a.m. By 6:45 a,m. Mercury will be about 9 degrees high in the southeast – difficult to see but not impossible with a flat horizon and clear conditions.

In the evening, by about 6 p.m., Venus and Saturn will be in the southwestern sky, at 22 degrees and 35 degrees respectively. In New York Venus sets at 8:27 p.m. and Saturn at 9:57 p.m.

Jupiter is in the east about halfway to the zenith from the horizon at 43 degrees; the planet will be situated to the left of Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus and the contrast between the two – Aldebaran is much redder than Jupiter – makes them easy to spot. Jupiter sets on Dec. 31 at 5:26 a.m. Mars rises at 6:07 p.m. and by 8 p.m. is 20 degrees above the eastern horizon; it is visible until sunrise.

Source: https://www.space.com/stargazing/the-rare-black-moon-of-december-30-rises-next-week

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