On Monday, August 19, a rare super blue moon will light up the sky.
According to NASA, this is a rarity because the celestial event will feature a supermoon and a blue moon.
Other names reported for tonight’s moon include Sturgeon Moon, Red Moon, Corn Moon, Green Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Herb Moon, Corn Moon or Dog Moon.
Here’s what you should know about the 2024 Super Blue Moon:
Why is it called the blue moon?
According to NASA, the first recorded use of the term “Blue Moon” in English dates back to 1528.
Since the 1940s, the term “Blue Moon” has been used to describe the second full moon in a month with two full moons.
There are two kinds of blue moons: seasonal and monthly. One Monday is of the seasonal variety.
A seasonal blue moon occurs when there are four full moons in one season (in this case, summer). The third of the four moons is considered a blue moon in this case.
The second definition – which is based on a misunderstanding of the original definition – is the monthly blue moon, which refers to the second full moon in a calendar month.
In any case, blue moons owe their reputation as rarity to a peculiarity in the typical rhythm of one full moon per month.
The two cycles lead to strange deviations that result in there being one more moon than usual in a season or month – this is called a blue moon.
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How often does a super blue moon occur?
According to NASA, there is generally a blue moon every two to three years. There can be up to 20 years between super blue moons, but the average is 10 years.
Will the moon actually be blue?
Most likely, the moon will not appear blue on Monday – that’s just the name for two full moons in one month. In rare cases, tiny particles in the air, smoke or dust, can scatter red wavelengths of light, making the moon appear blue.
However, you may see some photos with a blue tint – these are usually created using special blue camera filters or photo editing apps.
When was the last super blue moon?
The last super blue moon occurred recently – in August 2023 – but the next one won’t occur until 2037, according to NASA.
Full Moon Dates 2024
Full moon dates can be found on the Farmer’s Almanac website. The next full moon is the Harvest Moon, a supermoon, on September 17.
USA Today contributed to this story.
