The moon has captured people’s attention since before recorded history. We’ve built calendars and myths around its cycles, and imagine an increase in monsters and madness when it’s full. Even in our modern scientific age, every full moon brings a certain magic, but the August 2024 full moon is extra special.
Compared to a more conventional full moon, this one will almost look like the moon is pressing down on the Earth. While it may seem like the prelude to Roland Emmerich’s 2022 space disaster film Moonfall (now available to stream), SYFY), it is actually a blue moon, a supermoon and a full moon all at the same time.
What is a blue moon?
You’ve probably heard the phrase “once in a blue moon,” which refers to something that happens relatively rarely. The blue moon idea dates back to the mid-16th century and may have referred to rare atmospheric events where smoke or other debris makes the moon appear blue. It may also refer to an old English phrase meaning “traitor’s moon,” because a blue moon sometimes led to errors in timekeeping.
That’s because both definitions of a blue moon refer to an additional full moon within a given time period. The lunar cycle lasts about a month (29.5 days), so on average there is only one per month and three per season. However, sometimes there is an additional full moon per season or calendar month because the lunar cycle is slightly shorter than a month. Historically, a blue moon referred to the third full moon in a season that includes four full moons. Starting in the 1940s, the term began to refer to a second full moon in a calendar month.
Since the lunar cycle lasts just under a month and the full moon peaks on the 19th of August 2024, we know that this blue moon is the third of the season.
What is a supermoon?
The term “supermoon” was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle. He defined it as any full moon that occurs when the moon is at least 90% of its way to Earth (perigee). The moon’s orbit is not perfectly circular. It is spongy, and the moon appears larger or smaller depending on where it is in its orbit.
At its farthest point, the moon is about 251,000 miles from Earth. At its closest point, it’s only 224,000 miles away. As a result, the moon covers more or less of the night sky, between 0.5 and 0.6 degrees of arc (30 – 36 minutes of arc). Because the moon is so much closer during a supermoon, the full moon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter. When it comes to full moons, a supermoon is the best show in town. August’s full moon is the first of four consecutive supermoons. If you miss this one, you’ll have a chance to see a few more throughout the rest of the year.
How to see the super blue moon in August 2024
It’s been about a week since the Perseid meteor shower peaked, but there’s still plenty to see in the night sky. The August 2024 full moon will peak on August 19, 2024, at 2:26 p.m. ET. A few days later, a shadow will creep across the horizon and the moon’s phase will transition to a waning gibbous moon.
Although the full moon technically only lasts one day, it appears full for about three days around its peak. If you look up into the sky between now and Tuesday evening, you’ll see the full, blue supermoon staring back at you.
Experience the supermoon in the sky near you! And watch Moonfall streaming on SYFY.
