30 September,2016 08:36 AM IST | | Gaurav Sarkar
Tonight is the night for a second new moon, a phenomenon that occurs once in 30 months or so
A second new moon in the night sky is called a black moon
An unusual lunar event will be taking place tonight - a second new moon (more commonly known as a âblack moon') will occur in the night sky in the same calendar month. Usually, each calendar month sees only one full moon and one new moon. This phenomenon last occurred in March 2014.
Good night!
A new moon is the night when there is no moon in the night sky. Of course, this doesn't mean that the planet fell out of its orbit. It simply means that the moon's earth-facing side will be fully shadowed, giving the impression that there is no moon in the sky.
Astronomers have, for long, considered such nights ideal for stargazing, as celestial bodies are more clearly visible without the moon reflecting light.
"It is common for one new moon to occur in the night sky every month," said Mayank Walia, professor at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Astronomy department).
"Mathematically, the moon takes around 29 days to orbit the earth, meaning that a new moon occurs every 29 days. But since our calendar months are either 30 or 31 days, the result is that every 30 months or so, we see a second new moon in the sky - also known as a black moon."
Nothing inauspicious
Walia also said that although many astrologers considered a black moon inauspicious, it was nothing more than a mathematical/astronomical phenomenon.
"It (black moon) occurs nearly every 30 months or so, but we don't have a disaster every 30 months. Similarly, there are calendar months when you get two full moons in the same month," he explained.
Contradictory to traditional belief, which links a black moon to the âend of days', this year's seems to be more of a harbinger of new festivities and beginnings, according to the National Geographic. On the evening of October 2, the crescent-waxing moon will mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. On October 3, the growing crescent moon will also mark the beginning of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
