The moonless conditions on the night of the tragedy meant the ship’s Lookouts were unable to see the approaching iceberg until it was too late to avoid collision.
If you go outside on a clear, dark, moonless night — and you really should — chances are pretty good that within a few minutes you'll see a shooting star.
Harry was sitting with his forehead pressed against the train window, trying to get a first distant glimpse of Hogwarts, but it was a moonless night and the rain-streaked window was grimy.
The last night fell black and moonless, but for once the sky was clear. " I am going up the hill to look for Ghost, " he told the Thenns at the cave mouth, and they grunted and let him pass.