Skywatchers are in for a treat during the next full moon in August. Not only will we get to see a supermoon, but it will also be a blue moon as well. The confluence of these two events is relatively rare, so you might want to head outdoors and drink it in if you have the opportunity.
When is the next full moon in August?
You can catch the next full moon on August 19, 2024. It’ll begin at 2:26 p.m. EDT. Fortunately, unlike a solar eclipse, this is an astrological event that can be enjoyed the world round. Just peek out your head when the sun sets and look for the rising Moon.
What is a supermoon?
To explain a supermoon, we’ll need to discuss how the Moon orbits the Earth. The moon’s orbit isn’t perfectly circular; it’s elliptical. So, the Moon is closer to the Earth at certain points during the 27.3 days it takes to orbit around the planet.
According to Space.com, a supermoon occurs when there is a full moon or new moon during the time when the Moon is orbiting closest to the Earth. As a result, the Moon looks around 14% larger in diameter.
The opposite can also happen, though it’s not nearly as impressive. A micromoon occurs when there’s a full moon or new moon, and the Moon is at its furthest from the Earth.
What is a blue moon?
When there’s an extra full moon in a season, it’s called a blue moon. The phenomenon usually occurs once every 2-3 years. That means it’s not often that both a blue moon and a supermoon coincide.
Unfortunately, the moon itself doesn’t turn blue during a blue moon. The event only has calendrical significance, and you won’t see anything special in the night sky when it occurs.
So, if you want to catch the August blue supermoon, make sure to head outside on the 19th.
