Tonight is a big night for lunar space lovers. One of the rarest occasions is set to occur tonight – the only blue moon of the year, which is also a supermoon, will appear bright in the night sky after sunset.
Here are a few surprising facts about the super blue moon that you may need to know:
- ‘Blue Moon’ is not blue in color, but since the 1940s the second of the two full moons that fall in a calendar month is called a blue moon. Since August 1 was a full moon night, the full moon tonight will be the second in the same month.
- This time, the blue moon will also be a super moon, meaning it will occur during a period when the moon is closer to the Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual.
- According to NASA, about 25 percent of full moons are supermoons while only three per cent of full moons are blue moons. This makes tonight’s occurrence a rare one.
- NASA has also stated that the time between super blue moons is quite irregular – it can be as much as 20 years. However, generally, 10 years is the average.
- The supermoon appears 14 per cent larger than the “micro moon”, when the moon is furthest away from Earth on its elliptical orbit, according to London’s Natural History Museum.
- The supermoon also casts 30 per cent more light on Earth compared to the dimmest full Moon.
- The Earth and Moon are at their closest for two to five full moons each year. The next closest supermoon of the century will only be in December 2052.
- After tonight, the next super blue moons will occur in a pair, in January and March 2037.
So, gear up to witness a rare occasion tonight and keep the camera ready for some magnificent pictures that can be possible only ‘Once in a Blue Moon’.