Get ready for a rare astronomical treat!
August 2024 will witness a truly extraordinary celestial event. It will be both a super moon with the moon at almost its closest approach to the earth and will be the second in a series of two or more lunar events in a single calendar month which makes it a blue moon, therefore, Super Blue Moon. To have such a Supermoon and Blue moon together makes this a rather rare, and something any lover of astronomy should not want to miss.
What is a Super Blue Moon?
- Supermoon: Supersmoon, is when the moon is closest to the Earth in its elliptic orbit thus appearing larger and brighter than normal.
- Blue Moon: Let me reveal its secret: a blue moon doesn’t look blue at all. It is meant the second full moon in a particular calendar month and this is a phenomenon that occurs seldom.
When both these lunar events occur simultaneously one observes a Super Blue Moon, perhaps the most beautiful sight.
When to See the Super Blue Moon
The last Super Blue Moon is scheduled for the month of August, on Monday, the 19th of it, in the year 2024. However, it will look full for several days before and after this date, so you will have many chances to see it, this celestial marvel.
Tips for Viewing the Super Blue Moon
- Find a dark spot: Choose a place which is as far as possible from the centres of artificial lighting to have a visual impact of the beauty of the moon.
- Use binoculars or a telescope: naked eye though the Super Blue Moon should be visible and to make it a bit more interesting, considering using binoculars or even a telescope.
- Capture the moment: Do not forget to capture the moments or the whole process on a camera or a video camera to be able to share the beauty of the Super Blue Moon with other people.
