Black moon
Encyclopedia
In astronomy
, the term black moon is neither well-known nor frequently used. As a consequence it has no accepted definition, but seems to have occasionally been applied to at least four different situations:
and folklore
the full moon of each month is given a name. In many cases the waxing moon and waning moon are also given names. There are many variations, but the following list gives the most widely known names:
The third full moon in a season with four full moons is called a blue moon
, as described in the Maine Farmers' Almanac. Until recently it was commonly misunderstood that the second full moon in a month was the blue moon. However, it was recently discovered by Sky & Telescope
magazine and reported on NPR
that the interpretation of a blue moon as the second full moon of the month was erroneously reported in a 1946 issue of Sky & Telescope and then perpetuated by other media.
In some cultures, individuals whose birthdays fall on or near a harvest moon
must provide a feast for the rest of the community.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, the term black moon is neither well-known nor frequently used. As a consequence it has no accepted definition, but seems to have occasionally been applied to at least four different situations:
| Definition | Notes |
|---|---|
| 1. The second occurrence of a new moon New moon In astronomical terminology, the new moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon, in its monthly orbital motion around Earth, lies between Earth and the Sun, and is therefore in conjunction with the Sun as seen from Earth... in a calendar month. |
Cannot occur in February. Analogous to the common calendrical definition of a blue moon for months with two full moon Full moon Full moon lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun.Lunar eclipses can only occur at... s. |
| 2. The third new moon in a season that has four of them. | Analogous to the Farmers' Almanac definition of a blue moon for seasons with four full moons. |
| 3. The absence of a full moon Full moon Full moon lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the geocentric apparent longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun.Lunar eclipses can only occur at... in a calendar month. |
Can only occur in February, thus January and March will each have a second full moon (a calendrical blue moon). |
| 4. The absence of a new moon in a calendar month. | Can only occur in February, thus January and March will each have a second new moon (see definition 1). |
Other names
In mythMythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
and folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
the full moon of each month is given a name. In many cases the waxing moon and waning moon are also given names. There are many variations, but the following list gives the most widely known names:
- January - Wolf moonWolf moonThe Wolf Moon is a full moon that occurs in January. Its name comes from hungry wolf packs that would howl outside the villages of Native Americans. This full moon is also known as theOld Moon or the Moon After Yule....
, Cold Moon, Chaste Moon - February - Ice moon
- March - Storm moonStorm moonA Storm moon is, according to weather folklore, the moon which occurs in March during shifting weather patterns in the northern hemisphere. It is also called seed moon, moon of winds, crow moon, and moon of the snow-blind.-Other names:...
- April - Growing moon
- May - Hare moon
- June - Mead moon
- July - Hay moon
- August - Corn moon
- September - Harvest moonHarvest moonThe Full Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox.-Appearance:All full moons rise around the time of sunset. In general the moon rises about 3 minutes later each day...
- October - Hunter's moonHunter's moonThe hunter's moon—also known as blood moon or sanguine moon—is the first full moon after the harvest moon, which is the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox.- Background :...
, Blood Moon, Falling Leaf Moon - November - Snow moon, Mourning Moon
- December - Winter moonWinter MoonInvasion is a 1975 novel by author Dean Koontz. In 1994 Koontz re-released the book under a new name- Winter Moon. He also updated and revised it. Winter Moon is the current title under which the book can be purchased...
The third full moon in a season with four full moons is called a blue moon
Blue moon
A blue moon can refer to the third full moon in a season with four full moons. Most years have twelve full moons that occur approximately monthly. In addition to those twelve full lunar cycles, each solar calendar year contains roughly eleven days more than the lunar year of 12 lunations...
, as described in the Maine Farmers' Almanac. Until recently it was commonly misunderstood that the second full moon in a month was the blue moon. However, it was recently discovered by Sky & Telescope
Sky & Telescope
Sky & Telescope is a monthly American magazine covering all aspects of amateur astronomy, including the following:*current events in astronomy and space exploration;*events in the amateur astronomy community;...
magazine and reported on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
that the interpretation of a blue moon as the second full moon of the month was erroneously reported in a 1946 issue of Sky & Telescope and then perpetuated by other media.
In some cultures, individuals whose birthdays fall on or near a harvest moon
Harvest moon
The Full Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox.-Appearance:All full moons rise around the time of sunset. In general the moon rises about 3 minutes later each day...
must provide a feast for the rest of the community.