A 'black moon' is set to be visible in our skies come Friday 22 August, though many have been spooked by the prophecy behind it. The rare astronomical event only comes around every few years, but despite this occurrence, people have started to speculate about what this may mean for humanity.

While scientifically intriguing, the Black Moon isn’t visible at all, which is part of what’s made it the subject of ominous folklore. The term refers to the second new moon occurring within a single calendar month, a phenomenon that happens approximately every 33 months.

Without the moon shining in the sky, the stars alongside it should appear to shine more brightly, according to the the Old Farmer's Almanac. New moons like the Black Moon also have a stronger pull on Earth's tides, causing them to be extra high or extra low, the almanac states.

A seasonal black moon, to appear on August 22 or 23, is the third of four new moons within an astronomical season

A Black Moon, the third new moon in a season with four, will occur over Kentucky. The event will occur at 2:06 a.m. on Saturday, August 23rd in Louisville. Clear skies are predicted for optimal stargazing opportunities during the Black Moon. A Black Moon ...