Super blue moon: What is it, and when will the next one be?
Super blue moon: What is it, and when will the next one be?
Explainer - How did the super blue moon get this peculiar name? And why is there disagreement on when the next one will be? RNZ is here to clear it all up.
A super blue moon is a rare combination of three lunar events: a full moon, a blue moon, and a supermoon.
A full moon occurs when the Earth is directly between the sun and the moon, and the entire side of the moon facing the Earth is illuminated by the sun.
A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month. (The term "blue moon" originally referred to the third full moon in a season with four full moons, but this definition is no longer in common use.)
A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is at perigee, its closest point to Earth in its orbit.
The next super blue moon will occur on August 30, 2023. It will be the second full moon in August, and it will also be a supermoon.
Super blue moons are rare events, but they are not unheard of. The last super blue moon occurred in January 2018, and the next one will not occur until March 2037.
When a super blue moon occurs, the moon appears slightly larger and brighter than a regular full moon. This is because the moon is closer to Earth, and its light is therefore less dispersed by the Earth's atmosphere.
Super blue moons are a beautiful sight to behold, and they are a rare treat for skywatchers. If you have the chance to see one, be sure to take it!
Love a good excuse to go out and look at the moon.
Clouds are starting to roll in around here. Hoping they bugger off soon so we can get a good glimpse before we send the kids to bed.
Had fish and chips at the playground under the light of the moon. Nice way to make a mid-week evening feel a little more special.
Thanks Moon 👍