Rare Monday Super Blue Moon: A Fascinating Statistical Wonder

A unique sky extravaganza will occur Monday night and (probably) won’t happen again for years: A full moon, often known as a supermoon or blue moon, will appear in the night sky above the United States.

The unusual combination, known as a “super blue moon,” happens when the different cycles of blue and supermoons overlap on the calendar, according to NASA’s Noah Petro, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project Scientist.

If that needed to be simplified enough, astronomers have different definitions for what constitutes a supermoon and a blue moon. (According to specific definitions, a full moon matched both conditions last year.)

What is a Supermoon?

Supermoons occur when the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual. A supermoon happens when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth while the moon is full. Astrologer Richard Nolle created the phrase in 1979.

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“Different journals use slightly different standards for deciding when a full moon is sufficiently near the Earth to qualify as a supermoon,” the agency reported. Due to the elliptical shape of the Moon’s orbit, there are times when the Moon is closer to Earth than at other points in its orbit.

Full moons seem larger and brighter when closest to Earth, around 226,000 miles away. A supermoon will appear 30% brighter and 14% bigger than a regular full moon.

What is a Blue Moon?

Blue moons come in two types: seasonal and monthly. The only Monday will be of the seasonal type.

A seasonal blue moon happens when there are four full moons in the same season (in this case, summer). The third of the four is known as a blue moon when this happens.

The second term, resulting from a misconception of the first, is the monthly blue moon, which refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month.

In either case, blue moons are known for their scarcity due to a quirk in the regular cycle of one full moon per month.

The moon’s cycle lasts 29.5 days. However, as Missouri State University professor of astrophysics Mike Reed points out, months might contain 28, 29, 30, or 31 days.

The two cycles cause unusual mismatches, resulting in one more moon than usual in a season or month – this is known as a “blue moon.”

Months typically have one full moon unless there is a (monthly) blue moon. Seasons usually have three full moons unless there is a (seasonal) blue moon.

Furthermore, Monday’s full moon is unlike to appear blue: Blue-colored moons in images are typically created with special blue camera filters or photo editing applications.

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Does the Moon actually turn blue during a Super Blue Moon?

The Moon does not change color during a Super Blue Moon. The term “Blue Moon” is entirely metaphorical and does not indicate any actual change in the Moon’s appearance.

Depending on atmospheric situations, the Moon will retain its regular color, which ranges from light gray to dazzling white.

The epithet “blue” refers more to the rarity of the event than to any visual difference. On occasion, the Moon may seem BLUE due to air particulates, such as volcanoes or major wildfires, scattering light and giving the Moon a blue hue.

However, this phenomenon unconnected to the Super Blue Moon incident and should not expect to occur during this time.

Can a Super Blue Moon be seen from anywhere in the world?

Yes, a Super Blue Moon may seen from almost anywhere on Earth, provided the sky is clear and the Moon is above the horizon.

This worldwide visibility makes it a widely accessible event, as opposed to solar eclipses, which can only observed from certain locations.

The timing of the Moon’s rising and set varies by location, thus spectators throughout the world will see the occurrence at different times.

However, the Super Blue Moon remains the same wherever you go on the earth. The greatest views are generally found in places with little light pollution, allowing the beauty of the Super Blue Moon to be completely enjoyed against the black night sky.

Is there any special significance to a Super Blue Moon?

A Super Blue Moon is a rare and visually magnificent phenomenon, but it has no unique scientific or astronomical importance other than its rarity.

Unlike solar eclipses, which give great possibilities for scientific research, a Super Blue Moon is simply a beautiful and notable phenomenon in the night sky.

However, because of its rarity and unusual mix of lunar occurrences, it attracts skywatchers and is a favorite target for photographers looking to capture its splendor.

Witnessing such a rare event can have deep cultural and emotional implications for many individuals, adding to its attractiveness although it provides no specific scientific information.

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How Rare is a Super Blue Moon? When will the Next One Happen?

“It’s difficult to answer because it relies on what you think of a supermoon and a blue moon,” Edward Bloomer, senior astronomy manager at the Royal Observatory Greenwich in the United Kingdom, reported USA TODAY via email.

The answer varies depending on whether you’re referring to a seasonal or monthly blue moon. The answer fluctuates depending on how you define a supermoon.

According to NASA, on average, blue moons occur once every two or three years. The interval between super blue moons might be up to 20 years, although the average is 10 years.

When will the Next Super Blue Moon Occur?

NASA suggests January 2037 as a safe possibility.

However, depending on what you consider a super blue moon, you may hear about another one appearing before then.

When was the last Super Blue Moon?

The previous Super Blue Moon occurred on January 31, 2018, and closely awaited by both skywatchers and scientists.

It was an especially memorable occurrence since it occurred with a total lunar eclipse, resulting in what some dubbed a “Super Blue Blood Moon.”