Your Last Chance to See a Blue Supermoon for 9 Years
August has already graced us with one full moon, but it’s about to deliver an even rarer spectacle – a blue supermoon. This upcoming event is so extraordinary that we won’t witness another for the next nine years, according to NASA. So, seize this opportunity as it might be the only chance to witness such a marvel in this entire decade!
A perigean full moon, also known as a supermoon, occurs when the moon reaches its full phase at the closest point in its orbit around Earth. This proximity results in the moon appearing approximately eight percent larger and over 16 percent brighter, creating a remarkable sight. Interestingly, the previous full moon we experienced this year was a supermoon, and the upcoming one will be too.
What makes this event even more extraordinary is that it’s not just a typical supermoon; it’s a rare blue supermoon. We won’t witness anything quite like this until the 2030s. Adding to the excitement, the fact that we’ll witness two supermoons within just a few weeks is quite exceptional. Throughout the year, there are only four full moons that qualify as supermoons, and having two of them in August makes it an especially unique and special occasion. So, mark your calendars and make sure not to miss this rare celestial show!
Thank you for the clarification. You are absolutely right. Blue moons, in the sense of the second full moon in a calendar month, occur roughly every two and a half years, which makes them relatively more common than some might believe. Nevertheless, they are still infrequent enough to have inspired the saying “once in a blue moon,” symbolizing rare occurrences that do happen from time to time.
On the other hand, blue supermoons are indeed much rarer. The upcoming blue supermoon, which you can catch on August 30, promises to be an extraordinary event. It’s a celestial phenomenon you won’t want to miss. The peak of this rare supermoon is expected around 9:36 p.m. ET, so make sure you’re prepared and outside to witness this exceptional sight when the time arrives.
