When to watch Super Blue Moon today?
The astronomical event of ‘Blue Moon’ is scheduled for August 30 (today). Despite its name, the “blue moon” would be an enticing shade of orange rather than true blue.
What is a Blue Moon?
A Blue Moon is defined as a supermoon or full Moon that occurs at the same time as a perigee (the point in the Moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth).
Blue moons are not an uncommon sight in the sky. According to Space.com, the most recent Blue Moon was seen in August 2021.
A year typically has 12 lunar cycles that last 354 days, given that the average moon phase lasts approximately 29.5 days. This means that every 2.5 years, an extra 13th full moon occurs in a given year.
Also read: After successful moon landing, India sets sights on sun
The super blue moon, which completes a four-part lunar phenomenon, will be visible Thursday evening and will be the third-largest moon of the year. The phrase “blue moon” has nothing to do with the color of the moon; rather, it refers to two consecutive full moons.
The Super Blue Moon’s size and brightness will be slightly increased. Supermoons appear to be 40% larger and 30% brighter than full moons.
Although visible to the naked eye, the size difference would be invisible to the unaided eye. Binoculars may help you see the Super Blue Moon.
When to watch Super Blue Moon today?
One should observe the moon just after sunset during the hours of dusk to get the best view of the full moon. On August 30, at about 8:37 PM EDT, the Super Blue Moon will be visible.
