Why Tonight's Black Supermoon Is So Special

Clear your evening plans: tonight we will experience a supermoon. But it's no ordinary supermoon. It's a black supermoon.

Supermoons appear extra large from an earthling's perspective because the new moon occurs when it's closest to Earth. What's a black moon, you ask? Disappointingly, it's not actually black. The name refers to the second new moon in a month or the third in a season with four new moons, as in this case.

As IFL Science puts it: "Find yourself a location with a good western horizon. Watch for it as the sun is setting and then make sure you stick around as the sky darkens. Mars and Venus will be low in the west and close enough that they can fit in the field of view of most binoculars."

While we wait for tonight's show, check out pictures from last year's gorgeous supermoons.