The Black Moon At The End Of May Causes High Tides, People Are Advised Not To Go To Sea

Illustration - BMKG officers record the numbers listed on the wind speed measuring device or anemomete (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said a black moon could be witnessed in Indonesia at the end of May 2022, which could cause high tides.

"Like the new moon phase in general, the black moon can result in higher sea tides compared to other days when the Earth-Moon-Sun configuration is not aligned when viewed from above the poles. People are advised not to go to sea when the tide is high," said the researcher at The BRIN Andi Pangerang Space Research Center was quoted from Antara, Sunday.

Andi said the sixth new moon phase in 2022 will occur on May 30 at 11.30.08 Universal Time (UT). So, for the Eastern Europe region, Indonesia, to the Line Islands, it will only experience a black moon at the end of May 2022.

He said there are four different definitions of a black moon. First, the black moon is the second new moon phase in a Christian month. This phenomenon occurs quite often because it takes place periodically with a period of 29 months.

Second, the black moon is the third new moon phase in the astronomical season that contains four new moon phases. This phenomenon occurs every 33 months.

Third, the black moon is a phenomenon where there is no new moon phase in February. This phenomenon occurs once every 19 years. Fourth, the black moon is the full moon phase in February. This phenomenon occurs once every 19 years.

Andi said the black moon phenomenon can occur differently in each place because the time zone used is different in each place.

In addition, the fall of the new moon phase for each full moon is also different. Thus, there are regions that experience a triple black moon, there are regions that experience a double black moon and there are regions that only experience a black moon once.

Andi said that the black moon can't be seen with the naked eye because the Earth-Moon configuration of the Sun is visible in a straight line when observed from above the poles, so that the Moon's surface facing Earth is not exposed to the Sun's light and the Moon looks dark.

Every two to five times a year, this configuration coincides with when the Moon is at the vertex of the orbit (the intersection of the ecliptic and the Moon's orbit) so that the Moon's shadow falls on the Earth's surface and causes a solar eclipse.

The black moon as the second new moon in the Christian month has previously occurred in Indonesia on October 31, 2016 and August 30, 2019. This phenomenon will occur again on December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2027.

Meanwhile, the black moon as the third new moon in the astronomical season containing four new moon phases previously occurred in Indonesia on August 22, 2017 and August 19, 2020. This phenomenon will occur again on May 19, 2023 and August 23, 2025.

Meanwhile, a triple black moon (two black moons at the end of the Christian calendar and no new moon in February) has occurred in Indonesia, the United States and eastern Canada in 2014 and will occur again in 2033.

In addition, the black moon as a phenomenon when there is no full moon phase in February (so there is a double blue moon at the end of January and the end of March), has occurred in Indonesia, the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2018 and will occur again in 2037.