A ‘Black Moon’ is coming on Friday - and people think it means the end of the world

It sounds like the sort of cosmic event which should herald a new dark age of despair - a ‘Black Moon’ is coming this Friday.

Naturally, it’s inspired conspiracy theorists and other internet oddballs to proclaim that the end of the world is here - and there isn’t even enough time to dig yourself a bunker!

One conspiracy fans on Facebook said, ‘The Lord will make the moon turn red as blood … and turn black. Sounds familiar?’

Another widely shared post said, ‘Those signs are letting us know that Jesus is soon coming. We are approaching the end of our world and the end of life on Earth for all human being. Every day, we have to come closer to our saviour Jesus Christ. For none can escape for what is coming for the Earth.’

But are we really doomed? Probably not - and while a ‘black moon’ ounds pretty scary, it’s actually perfectly normal, and not even that rare.

The ‘black moon’ will rise on Friday night, turning the sky dark in the Western Hemisphere (ie most of’ America and the Western-most bits of Europe).

It is the second new moon in a month - when the moon will be entirely invisible in the night sky for the second time this September.

Josh Rao of Space.com says, ‘A second full moon in a single calendar month is sometimes called a blue moon.

‘A black moon is supposedly the flip side of a blue moon: the second new moon in a single calendar month.