The term “blue moon” is a misnomer. It does not refer to the color of the moon, but to the rarity of the event. A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month. This happens about once every two and a half years.
The reason why the second full moon in a month is called a blue moon is because the traditional definition of a full moon is the first full moon of a month. So, if there are two full moons in a month, the second one is called a blue moon.
The moon will not actually appear blue during a blue moon. The color of the moon is determined by the amount of sunlight that is reflected off of its surface. The moon’s surface is covered in dust and other particles, which scatter sunlight in all directions. This is why the moon appears white most of the time.
However, under certain conditions, the moon can appear to be slightly blue. This can happen if there are large amounts of dust or smoke in the atmosphere. The dust and smoke particles can scatter red light more than blue light, which can give the moon a bluish tint.
The next blue moon will occur on August 30-31, 2023. It will be a rare combination of a second full moon in a month and a supermoon.
- A blue moon is the second full moon in a month. This happens about once every two and a half years.
- A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth (perigee). This makes the moon appear about 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual.
The blue moon of August 2023 will be a supermoon, but it will not appear blue. The term “blue moon” is a misnomer. It does not refer to the color of the moon, but to the rarity of the event.
The blue moon of August 2023 will be visible to skywatchers all over the world. The best time to see it will be just after sunset.
Here are some interesting facts about the blue moon of August 2023:
- It will be the third and final full moon of the summer.
- It will coincide with the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan.
- It will be the closest full moon to Earth since January 2018.
- It will be the last blue moon until August 2025.
- The term “blue moon” was first used in the 16th century. It was originally used to refer to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons. However, the modern definition of a blue moon is the second full moon in a month.
- There is a rare astronomical event called a tetrad, which is four consecutive blue moons. The last tetrad occurred in 2015-2016. The next tetrad will occur in 2031-2032.
- The blue moon of August 2023 will be visible to skywatchers all over the world, but it will be best seen in the Northern Hemisphere.
- The moon will reach its peak brightness at 8:37 PM EDT on August 30, 2023. However, it will still be visible for several hours before and after that time.
- If you are planning to see the blue moon, be sure to find a clear viewing spot. The moon will be brighter than usual, so it will be easier to see even in light pollution.
If you are lucky enough to see the blue moon of August 2023, enjoy the rare opportunity to witness this amazing astronomical event.