A black super new moon is the next lunar phenomenon to take place this year, when both a black moon and a super new moon will occur at the same time.

While North America’s black moon occurred slightly earlier on July 31, it won't take place in Europe until later today.

But, what exactly is a black moon and a supermoon, and will we be able to see the event?

Here is everything you need to know about the black super new moon, including definitions and the science behind Earth’s only natural satellite.

What is a black moon?

There is actually no single, accepted definition for black moon, but it is used by stargazers to describe three phenomena.

In most cases, it refers to the second occurrence of a new moon in a single calendar month. This type will next take place in the UK on August 30, 2019.

Some may use black moon to describe the third new moon in a season of four new moons. Each season usually sees three new moons, but a fourth takes place around every 33 months.

Black moon also refers to a month, which sees no new moons. This tends to take place every 19 years and can only happen in February because it is shorter than a lunation.