How to see August's rare blue supermoon this week
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A supermoon on Aug. 31, 2023. Photo: George Rose/Getty Images
August's rare blue supermoon will appear bigger and brighter than most full moons when it lights up the sky this week.
Why it matters: It's the first of four consecutive supermoons this year, according to NASA.
- NASA says the full Moons in September and October are expected to be "virtually tied for the closest of the year."
When is the Blue Moon or Sturgeon Moon?
The big picture: The full moon will reach peak at 2:26pm ET Monday, NASA said.
- It will appear full for three days, from Sunday morning through early Wednesday morning, the agency said.
The August full moon is also known as the Sturgeon Moon and named after sturgeon fish found in the Great Lakes around this time of year, per Almanac.com.
What is the best time to see the Blue Moon tonight?
Zoom in: The Moon should be highest in the sky in the east around Monday evening around midnight, EarthSky News reports.
- You can also look in the west before sunrise on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Context: The Moon will not look blue but it's the third full moon in a season of four full moons, NASA said.
What is a supermoon?
Supermoon refers to a full or a new moon rising near or while the moon reaches perigee, its closest distance to Earth in its orbit around the planet.
- Supermoons occur about three to four times a year, according to NASA.
- Full supermoons appear approximately 30% brighter and 14% larger than usual full moons.
Between the lines: About 25% of all full moons are supermoons, NASA says, but only 3% of full moons are Blue Moons.
What's next: The next monthly Blue Moon is on May 31, 2026, according to TimeandDate.com.
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