A super blue moon is a full moon, a blue moon, and a super moon all rolled into one. Don’t let the name fool you – a blue moon isn’t blue because the moon is blue; that’s just the nickname for the second full moon that occurs in a month. A super moon occurs when the moon’s orbit brings it a little closer to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter. The combination of a super moon and a blue moon is rare.
The full moon reached its peak at 2:26 p.m. EDT on Monday afternoon, but it will be visible through Wednesday morning. You just need to look up at the sky to see the spectacle (though experts say people with telescopes and binoculars will be able to see more detail on the moon’s surface than normal). You’ll need fairly clear skies to see the moon, so check your local forecast to make sure the weather won’t obstruct your view.
In case you missed the sight on Monday night, photographers captured stunning images of the moon. Here are some of the best photos:
The Eiffel Tower appears to shine a spotlight on a super blue moon on August 19, 2024 in Paris, France.Christian Hartmann—ReutersOn August 19, 2024, a super blue moon will rise over the Statue of Liberty in New York. Fatih Aktas-Anadolu/Getty ImagesOn August 19, 2024, a super blue moon will rise over the Temple of Poseidon near Athens, Greece. Louisa Vradi – ReutersPeople gather to watch the moon at White Sand National Park near Alamogordo, New Mexico, August 19, 2024. Jose Luis Gonzalez-ReutersOn August 19, 2024, a rare super blue moon will be visible next to a building near the Dutch city of Eindhoven. Nicolas Economou – NurPhoto/Getty ImagesA rare super blue moon will rise over the Golden Gate Bridge on August 19, 2024, as seen from Sausalito, California. Scott Strazzante-San Francisco Chronicle/Getty ImagesThe Christ the Redeemer statue in the foreground of a super blue moon in Rio de Janeiro on August 20, 2024. AFP/Getty ImagesA jet plane flies past a super blue moon, seen from Van Nuys, California, August 19, 2024.Gene Blevins – ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
