COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – A rare astronomical event will light up the skies over the Midlands for the next three days.
The moon will be both a supermoon and a blue moon.
Local skywatchers will notice that the full moon appears brighter and larger than normal because it is a supermoon, which is when the moon is at a position of 90% of its closest approach to Earth.
According to NASA, the moon will last from Sunday morning through Wednesday morning, reaching its peak on Monday afternoon at 2:26 p.m.
Despite the name, the moon will not appear blue, although there have been rare events in history when the moon has appeared blue due to atmospheric conditions. A blue moon is actually the third full moon in a season in which there are four full moons.
According to NASA, the lunar event usually occurs about every 10 years. However, it has been happening more frequently recently, and there was also a super blue moon in August 2023.
There are no specific guidelines for observing the moon, as it is visible as long as the sky is clear. However, NASA advises that if you want to view the moon at a larger size, you should observe the sky when the moon is rising in the east or setting in the west. When the moon is combined with foreground objects on the horizon, it creates an illusion that makes it appear larger.
This particular full moon is called the “Sturgeon Moon” by the Algonquian Native American tribes of the northeastern United States, named after the fish that are more easily caught in the Great Lakes at this time of year.
This full moon also coincides with the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan (or Rakhi Purnima), which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
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