Tonight will see the rare astronomical phenomenon of a super blue moon, when both a supermoon and a blue moon occur simultaneously. Tonight’s moon is also known to Native Americans as the Sturgeon Moon.
Will you be able to see it tonight? Here’s what we know.
What is a supermoon?
When the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual, this cosmic combination is called a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth and the moon is full at the same time. The term was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle.
“Different publications use slightly different thresholds to decide when a full moon is close enough to Earth to be considered a supermoon,” NASA said. “Because the moon’s orbit is not a perfect circle, the moon is closer to Earth at times during its orbit than at other times.”
How rare is a supermoon?
Supermoons occur three to four times a year. About 25% of all full moons are supermoons, but only 3% of full moons are blue moons.
What is a blue moon?
There are two types of blue moons: seasonal and monthly. The full moon in August 2024 will be a seasonal full moon.
Typically, there are three full moons during an astronomical season – the period between the solstice and the equinox, or vice versa – NASA writes. But when there are four full moons in a season (in this case, summer), the third of the four is considered a blue moon.
How rare is a blue moon?
Monthly blue moons occur approximately every 2-3 years. The term refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month.
Seasonal blue moons are rare. The next one won’t occur until May 2027.
Will the moon actually turn blue?
However, Monday’s full moon is unlikely to appear blue: Blue-colored moons in photos are usually created using special blue camera filters or photo editing apps.
The moon has taken on blue shades in the past, writes NASA, but this is an extremely rare occurrence. If it does happen, experts say it is due to water particles that are often thrown into the atmosphere by natural disasters. Ash from a volcanic eruption in 1883 made the moon appear blue for years.
The first recorded use of the term “Blue Moon” in English dates back to 1528.
How rare is a super blue moon?
Well, a blue moon occurs on average every two to three years, writes NASA, but a blue moon that is also a supermoon is even rarer. The time between super blue moons can be as long as 20 years – but generally it is 10 years.
The next pair of super blue moons will occur in January and March 2037, according to NASA.
What is a sturgeon moon?
The full moon in August is also known as the “Sturgeon Moon” among Native Americans.
Naming moons was a way for Native Americans to track the seasons and plan their activities. “The full moon in August was traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon because the giant sturgeons of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most easily caught during this time of summer,” says the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Sturgeon were once abundant, but their populations have declined sharply due to overfishing and habitat loss, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
Other Native American names for the August full moon include “Black Cherry Moon,” “Corn Moon,” and “Mountain Shadow Moon.”
The moon phases in August 2024 are:
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🌑 new moon: 4 August.
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🌓 First quarter: August 12th.
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🌕 Full moon: August 19th.
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🌗 Last quarter: August 26th.
Will I be able to see the super blue moon tonight?
According to the National Weather Service in Louisville, skies are expected to be mostly clear tonight.
Astronomical events in August 2024 according to NASA
These are the remaining astronomical events of this month:
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19 August – Full moon.
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20.08. – The Moon chases Saturn across the sky tonight. The pair rise in the east just after dusk and move west together until dawn.
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27.August – This morning, the crescent moon forms a fascinating trio with Mars and Jupiter. Look for them in the east about an hour before sunrise.
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All month – You can see the Lagoon Nebula with binoculars or a telescope in the first few hours after dark. It is located in the constellation Sagittarius, near the constellation of the Teapot. Similar in size and brightness to the Orion Nebula, it is a melting pot of star formation located about 4,000 light-years away.
What you should know: How rare is the super blue moon in August 2024? The next one will be in January 2037.
John Tufts covers breaking news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JTuftsReports.
Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman.
This article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star: Super Blue Moon 2024: Can you see it in Indiana?
