Bloomberg Línea — On the night of August 30, the night sky will be adorned with a celestial novelty: a super blue moon. This lunar event marks the third in a series of four consecutive supermoons and will be the largest of the year.
Before you imagine a moon bathed in a blue hue, it’s worth noting that the term “blue moon” doesn’t actually refer to its color. Rather, it signifies a rare convergence of three distinct lunar phenomena, creating a spectacle that captures the fascination of astronomers and skywatchers alike.
According to Space.com, this will be the last super blue moon until 2037, while, as per In the Sky, the next supermoon will be on Sept 18, 2024.
The Blue Supermoon Explained
Gordon Johnston, a scientist at NASA’s Solar System Exploration, unraveled the phenomenon. The upcoming full moon is, in essence, a harmonious fusion of a supermoon and a blue moon, which coincidentally aligns with the Hindu festival of Rakhi Purnima.
What sets this blue supermoon apart is its size and brightness. When it appears in the night sky, it will seem approximately 7% larger than usual and shine 15% brighter than the ordinary full moon. However, at a distance of 222,043 miles (357,344 km) from the Earth, this may not be readily discernible to the naked eye. That distance is still relatively closer than the moon’s average distance from our planet, which stands at about 240,000 miles (386,242 km), according to Space.com.
This will be the second full moon in August, earning it the label of a “Blue Moon,” according to the criteria established by Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946. Interestingly, an older interpretation of a Blue Moon, dating back to at least the 1500s, refers to the third full moon within a season containing four full moons.
New York: A Night of Celestial Grandeur
For the night owls of New York City, the blue moon of August 2023 is scheduled to make its appearance at 7:10 pm EDT. As it graces the big apple’s night sky, the moon will reach its closest point to Earth in its orbit.
LA Meets the Blue Moon
In Los Angeles, the blue moon will appear at 7:36 pm PDT, when it will ascend above the horizon, becoming visible to onlookers. At 9:36 pm PDT, the moon will reach its fullest phase, at which point it will officially become a super blue moon. The Saturn should also be visible near the moon as it appears in the night sky.
The celestial display will conclude as the moon gracefully sets at 6:28 am PDT on August 31, 2023.
When Will the Blue Moon Appear in Miami
In the city of Miami, the blue moon will make its appearance on August 30, 2023, at 7:06 pm EDT. As the moon rises above the horizon at this time, its brilliance will become evident to skywatchers across the region. The blue moon will reach its fullest splendor at 9:35 pm EDT, signifying its status as a super blue moon. This dual distinction means it is both the second full moon in a single calendar month and at its closest approach to Earth in its orbital trajectory.
As dawn approaches on August 31, 2023, the moon will gracefully set at 6:28 am EDT, bidding adieu to the night of the blue moon.
How to See the Blue Supermoon?
The Moon will be at its brightest at 8:37 PM (EDT) and will be visible just after sunset.
