As a seasoned space enthusiast who has spent countless nights gazing up at the cosmos, I can confidently say that the August 2024 full Moon is not just another celestial event but an extraordinary spectacle that should not be missed. With its unique combination of a blue Moon, supermoon, and full Moon all on the same night, it promises to be a sight for sore eyes.
People have been fascinated by the Moon since time immemorial. We’ve constructed calendars and legends based on its phases, often associating a rise in mythical creatures and madness during a full moon. Even in our current scientific age, there’s still a touch of enchantment associated with each full Moon, but the one in August 2024 is particularly remarkable.
Compared to a standard full moon, this one will seem unusually close to Earth, as if the moon is looming over us. Though it may resemble the prelude to Roland Emmerich’s 2022 space catastrophe film “Moonfall” (currently streaming on SYFY), it’s actually a blue moon, supermoon, and full moon happening simultaneously.
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What is a blue Moon?
The term “once in a blue Moon” is often used to describe something that doesn’t happen very frequently. The concept of a blue Moon can be traced back to the 16th century and may have originated from unusual atmospheric conditions where the Moon appears blue due to smoke or other particles in the air. It could also refer to an old English phrase meaning “misleading Moon,” as a blue Moon sometimes led to errors in calculating time.
As a moon enthusiast, I’ve found that the term “blue Moon” holds two distinct meanings. Traditionally, it was used to describe the third full Moon within a season (which typically spans about three months) when four full Moons occur in that timeframe. More recently, however, a blue Moon has come to signify an extra full Moon within a calendar month, arising due to the Moon’s cycle being slightly shorter than a typical 29.5-day lunar cycle, leading to an additional one in a given month or season.
Since the Moon goes through its cycle nearly every 29 days, and the August 2024 full Moon occurs on the 19th, we can deduce that this blue Moon marks the third in the current season.
What is a supermoon?
The term “supermoon” was introduced by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. He described it as any full moon that occurs when the moon is at least 90% of its closest approach to Earth (perigee). You see, the moon’s orbit isn’t perfectly circular; it bulges and changes size depending on where it is in its journey around Earth.
The Moon’s distance from Earth varies, with it being as far as 251,000 miles during its most distant point and as close as 224,000 miles at its nearest approach. This distance change influences how much of the night sky the Moon occupies, ranging between approximately 0.5 to 0.6 degrees (30 – 36 arc minutes). Due to its proximity during a supermoon, the full Moon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter. When it comes to full Moons, a supermoon offers the most spectacular display. The full Moon in August marks the beginning of four consecutive supermoons. If you miss this one, there will be more opportunities to witness them throughout the rest of the year.
How to See the August 2024 Super Blue Moon
For about a week now, the Perseids meteor shower has reached its maximum brightness, but there are still plenty of celestial sights to behold in the evening sky. The full Moon, which will occur on August 19, 2024, at 2:26 p.m. ET, is fast approaching. A few days after that, a shadow will gradually appear on the horizon and the Moon’s phase will change into a waning gibbous.
For approximately three days, starting from now and extending up until Tuesday night, you’ll notice the full, blue supermoon shining brightly in the sky.
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2024-08-19 23:16