Is Friday's Black Moon a sign of the Apocalypse?

An event that some say will usher in the apocalypse is about to take place on Friday. A Black Moon will rise on September 30 over North America, and some think it signals the second coming of Jesus Christ.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - A rare Black Moon will rise around nightfall on September 30 over the United States. The event is taken by some to be an omen of the Apocalypse. It may herald the second coming of Jesus Christ, being the sign mentioned in Matthew: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken."

A Black Moon occurs about every 32 months or so, but this one is special. It follows a "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse and a second Black Moon will take place around Halloween. This combination of celestial events has some worried that this time, it is a sign in the heavens.

A Black Moon is the second new moon in a month. Most people are familiar with its opposite, the Blue Moon, which is the second full moon in a month. Blue Moons and Black Moons occur with the same frequency for the same reason.

However, a Black Moon has naturally sinister connotations. The Moon is difficult to see from the Earth because the fide facing the planet is not illuminated at all, not even a thin crescent.

For people in Europe and the rest of the world, they will not see the Black Moon, but rather a thin crescent. Only in North America where the alignment is just right, will the moon rise while still entirely unlit.

How do you see it?

You won't. The Black Moon occurs at 5:11 p.m. PDT on Friday (8:11 p.m. EDT). However, the moon will not be illuminated at all, and it will occur around sunset for those on the west coast, so the glare of the sun will wash out the moon anyway. For those in the east, the moon will literally be dark, making it difficult, but not impossible to see.

Some may see a light disk against a dark background of the night sky. This is a modern phenomenon caused by "earthshine." Some sunlight reflects off Earth and some is given off by our lights on the surface and it reflects back from the surface of the moon, giving it a faint glow. This is why at night, even when merely a crescent is visible, the entire moon can still be seen. But on Friday, it will be difficult.

Is this an omen of the end times?

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Maybe, but nobody really knows. Scientists think is isn't, and Friday is an ordinary night, just like any other. As Catholics, we are taught to always be prepared because we know not the hour. There's probably no need to cancel your weekend plans, but a visit to the parish church never hurts!

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