DETROIT, August 19, 2024 ~ Stargazers are in for a celestial treat Monday, as a rare Super Blue Moon takes center stage in the night sky.
The phenomenon of a Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in calendar month. A Supermoon occurs when a full or new moon coincides with the moon’s closest orbital position to the Earth. A Super Blue Moon is the combination of both phenomena, an occurrence that happens on average one per decade.
The term “Blue Moon” might invoke images of a moon bathed in cobalt, though the moon won’t actually appear blue. The name is derived from the Old English word, “belewe,” which means “betrayer,” as early skywatchers deemed the occurrence of two full moons in a month to be the work of a trickster.
PODCAST:
August 19, 2024 ~a Super Blue Moon will be visible in the night sky beginning tonight just after sunset. Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie talk with Michigan Science Center President Dr. Christian Greer about why the moon will appear much brighter and closer than usual. Photo: Mike De Sisti ~ USA Today Network
(CONTINUED) Tonight’s Blue Moon will be the second full moon of August, a rare event that won’t happen again until 2026. The next Super Blue Moon won’t occur until January of 2037.
Experts recommend traveling away from the city lights to get a full appreciation of the lunar event. Using a telescope or binoculars, viewers will find the moon’s craters and maria particularly detailed, providing a compelling and rare view of our nearest celestial companion.
The best time to view the Super Blue Moon will be immediately following sunset, which occurs tonight at 8:26 p.m. Forecasters are projecting partly cloudy conditions. The moon will be visible in the eastern sky.
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