August’s full moon is an extraordinary ‘super blue moon.’ What can we expect to see?
If the weather cooperates, stargazers will enjoy a stunning view of a super blue moon that will rise in the evening sky on Monday.
This super blue moon is a rare phenomenon.
The “super” aspect indicates that the moon’s orbit brings it a bit closer to Earth this month, making it appear larger and brighter. The “blue” designation means this is the third full moon of the season, which is a rare occurrence.
According to NASA, blue moons generally happen once every few years on average, but a super blue moon is even less frequent. The time span between super blue moons can reach up to 20 years, with the average being about 10 years.
The following super blue moon will occur in January 2037.
When is the super blue moon happening?
The moon will be at its fullest at 2:26 p.m. EDT on Monday. At that moment, it will be below the horizon in the U.S., but it will look nearly full when it rises in the eastern sky on Monday evening. NASA states the moon will appear full for three days, from Sunday morning to early Wednesday morning.
What makes a supermoon?
The moon’s elongated orbit around Earth can sometimes make it look larger. When the moon is full and at its nearest point to Earth, known as perigee, it is classified as a supermoon.
Nautor says, “Different sources may have various criteria for defining when a full moon is close enough to qualify as a supermoon. Because the moon’s path around Earth isn’t a perfect circle, it sometimes gets closer than at other times during its orbit.”
Astrologer Richard Nolle coined the term “supermoon” in 1979, describing it as “a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in its orbit.”
According to EarthSky.org, the upcoming full supermoons will include:
â—¾ Sturgeon Moon: Aug. 19 at 2:26 p.m. EDT (Full supermoon)
â—¾ Harvest Moon: Sept. 17 at 10:34 p.m. EDT (Full supermoon)
â—¾ Hunter’s Moon: Oct. 17 at 7:26 a.m. EDT (Full supermoon)
â—¾ Beaver Moon: Nov. 15 at 4:29 p.m. EST (Full supermoon)
Why does it look so big?
When the moon is at its closest point to Earth, around 226,000 miles away, it appears substantially larger and brighter than usual. During a supermoon, it can look about 30% brighter and 14% larger than an ordinary full moon.
What does blue moon mean?
“The term ‘once in a blue moon’ signifies a rare event. This applies to two definitions of a blue moon:
When there are four full moons in one season (in this case, summer), the third full moon is labeled a blue moon.
The second definition stems from a misconception about the original meaning and refers to the second full moon occurring in a calendar month.
A caution regarding this month’s full moon: It’s unlikely to actually appear blue. Moons that look blue in photographs are typically produced using special filters or editing software.
After this month’s blue moon, the next one won’t happen until May 2026.
Why is it called the sturgeon moon?
“The full moon in August is traditionally called the sturgeon moon because this is when the large sturgeon fish in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during summer,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Sturgeon fish were once abundant, but their numbers have greatly diminished due to overfishing and habitat destruction, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
SOURCE Space.com, NASA, EarthSky.org, BBC Sky at Night magazine, and YSL News research
