Unlike a supermoon or lunar eclipse, a Black Moon isn't something you can watch unfold in real time. During the new moon phase, the moon is positioned between Earth and the sun, so its unlit side faces us, rendering it invisible against the bright sky.

The good news is that the upcoming black moon occurring on Aug. 22 at 11:06 p.m. PT and Aug. 23 at 2:06 a.m. ET will darken the night sky to allow for prime stargazing without the light of the moon brightening the sky. The phenomenon only happens once every 29 months and comes after a strawberry moon lit up the sky in June.