Get Ready for the Spectacular Blue Supermoon: Brightest Moon of the Year! A breathtaking celestial event is about to grace the skies: the Blue Supermoon! While it won’t actually be blue in color, this moon promises to be the brightest of the year, illuminating the night with its mesmerizing glow. And here’s the catch – this rare occurrence won’t repeat itself until 2037, so don’t miss your chance to witness this stunning phenomenon.
On the upcoming Wednesday, prepare to gaze at a full moon that meets all the criteria for being a supermoon. This means the moon will be at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, known as perigee, making it appear about 7% larger than an average full moon. Although the difference might not be immediately noticeable, the sheer brilliance of this moon will undoubtedly captivate your senses.
But what makes it a “blue” supermoon? The term “supermoon” was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, referring to either a new or full moon occurring within 90% of perigee. While “blue” doesn’t refer to its color, it’s a nod to the rarity, as in “once in a blue moon.” This particular Blue Supermoon is the second full moon in the month of August, with the first occurring on August 1.
A retired NASA astrophysicist, Fred Espenak, calculates that this supermoon will be around 222,043 miles away, ensuring it shines as the brightest moon of the year. The term “Blue Moon” has historical roots, often denoting the second full moon in a month. Yet, older definitions were based on the number of full moons in a year, adding to the intrigue of this phenomenon.
While supermoons aren’t incredibly rare, Blue Moons are a bit more elusive, occurring only about once every 33 moons. Witnessing a Blue Supermoon is even more exceptional, happening every 10 to 20 years. So, mark your calendars for this dazzling event and get ready to marvel at the cosmic wonder above. And who knows, maybe one day, we might even witness a truly blue moon, ignited by extraordinary circumstances like volcanic eruptions or forest fires, as history has shown.