A 'black moon' will appear in the sky this weekend, but you won't see it. Here's why

There are "blood," "super" and "blue" moons, and then there's the "black" moon.

The "black moon," a rare phenomenon that occurs during a new moon phase of the lunar cycle, will occur this weekend. But don't get your hopes up too much, scientists say, because it will be technically invisible.

Here's what to know.

What is it?

When the moon is nearly between Earth and the sun, one side of the moon faces the sun, and that side is illuminated, but the side the Earth sees is dark. This is called the new moon phase of the lunar cycle — when the moon isn't visible at night.

During this phase, the illuminated side of the moon is not only facing away from Earth, but it is also up in the sky during the daytime and rises and sets at the same time as the sun, according to NASA . The moon is grav