Rare black moon to rise on December 30 in 2024

A rare "black moon" will occur on December 30, 2024, marking the second new moon of the month. This event will take place at 5:27 p.m. ET, following a conjunction with Mercury on December 28. During a new moon, the moon is not visible from Earth as its illuminated side faces away. This phase is beneficial for astronomers, as the dark sky allows for better visibility of fainter celestial objects. On the night of the black moon, Mercury will be visible in the dawn sky on December 31. Venus and Saturn will also be observable in the southwestern sky that evening.