The moon lovers among us can expect a real highlight this evening: a very special supermoon will be visible in the sky.
If you’re not familiar with the beauty of supermoons, they occur when a full moon is closest to Earth, making them appear larger and brighter than usual.
The BBC reports that they are “up to 15 percent brighter and 30 percent larger than normal full moons.”
The supermoon in question will be visible in the sky for three days – and it will be a sight to behold, as it is a blue supermoon, also known as the “Sturgeon Moon” after the Native American name.
A super blue moon is coming our way. (Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
This is because sturgeon have traditionally been caught in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain at this time of year.
A blue moon is the third full moon in a season—and there are four full moons in total. This awe-inspiring event is not expected to occur again until 2026 at the earliest.
How to watch the supermoon
A clear sky with as few clouds as possible is helpful. To see the moon as clearly as possible, you should stay away from buildings and street lights.
The best part is that the moon is visible even without special equipment, but if you want to invest in a pair of binoculars, your experience will be even better.
The rarity of a blue moon
The clue is in the name, as you’ve probably heard the phrase “once in a blue moon” before.
There are several ways to define a blue moon – and both illustrate how rare they are.
The supermoon will be visible for three days. (Gerard/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The first is a blue moon, like the one seen tonight—the third full moon in a season of four full moons.
However, it also refers to the rare event that occurs every two to three years.
The BBC adds: “It takes the Earth a year to orbit the Sun once, and the Moon takes 29.5 days to orbit the Earth.”
“This means that 12 full cycles of the Moon around the Earth take 354 days. That’s less than the 365 days (or 366 days during a leap year) in our calendar year.
“Because the periods don’t quite align, we experience a 13th full moon every two to three years, with two full months seen in a single month. A Blue Moon is the rarer second full moon in that month.”
The astrological event is sure to be an incredible sight – so don’t miss it.
Photo credit: Davide Pischettola/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Topics: News, Space, Astrology
