When a supermoon or full moon happens at the same time the moon is very close to Earth, it’s called a Blue Moon. This is something that happens in space usually after 2.5 years, which is pretty exciting. Space experts from Space.com say the last time we saw one was in August 2021.
Today, on August 30, 2023, something special will happen in the sky over India – a blue moon will be seen. This doesn’t happen very often. It’s when we get a second full moon in one month, and this time, it’s also a supermoon. At exactly 8:37 PM EDT, the moon will be really bright and big, and you can see it well after the sun goes down.
Interestingly, the name “blue moon” might confuse you. It doesn’t mean the moon will actually be blue in color. It will still look white or gray, like usual with an orange hue. Instead, it means we’re having a second full moon in the same month. This only happens about every 2.5 years.
The “Supermoon” part of the name is about how close the moon is to Earth this time. It’s closer than usual, so it looks bigger and shines brighter than a regular full moon. Remember, we won’t see another Super Blue Moon until January 2037. So, if you’re in India today, don’t miss this rare and amazing sight!
What is This Phenomenon?
Usually, there are 12 times a year when we see a full moon. This is because the time between full moons is about 29.5 days. But sometimes, around every 2.5 years, we get an extra 13th full moon in a year.
The supermoon, which is the last part of a four-part special moon event, will be visible on Thursday evening. It will be the third biggest moon this year. The name “blue moon” doesn’t mean the moon will be blue. It means we’re having two full moons close together.
This special super bluish moon will look a bit bigger and brighter. Supermoons look about 40% bigger and 30% brighter than normal full moons.
Even though you can see it with your eyes, you might notice the size more if you use binoculars.
