Topline
Skygazers around the world experienced the rare celestial event known as a “blue supermoon” Wednesday night, as both a blue moon and supermoon combined, lighting up the sky with a bigger and brighter moon in an event that won’t be seen again for 14 years.
A peacock sits on a chimney as the moon rises behind it in Hyderabad, India, on Aug. 30.
Key Facts
The event combined a “blue moon” with a “supermoon,” marking the first time those events had been seen together since 2018.
A blue moon refers to the second full moon seen in a month, which NASA notes typically happens only every two to three years.
The last blue moon was in August 2021, and the next will be in 2026, BBC News notes.
A supermoon is when a full moon takes place at the same time that the moon is at its closest point to Earth on its elliptical orbit (known as perigee).
That happens more frequently, with NASA noting approximately 25% of full moons are supermoons and this being the third supermoon of the year.
A supermoon makes the moon look approximately 14% bigger than when it’s at its farthest point from Earth, according to NASA, which describes the difference as being about the same as the size difference between a quarter and nickel.
What To Watch For
A blue supermoon won’t happen again until January and March 2037, according to NASA. Blue supermoons take place an average of 10 years apart, though the last one was seen more recently, and the time between events can be as long as 20 years.
Surprising Fact
The blue supermoon may have affected the storm surge from Hurricane Idalia as it made landfall in the southeastern U.S. on Wednesday, as the event creates a gravitational pull that would increase tides more than their normal range.
The supermoon rises over the Statue of Liberty in New York City on August 30.
The super blue moon sets between the Balmoral Clock and the Scott Monument in Edinburgh on August … [+]
The blue supermoon known as ‘Blue Moon’ rises over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, … [+]
The blue supermoon over Gulou Ecological Square in Southwest China’s Guizhou province. on August 30. … [+]
The blue supermoon rises over Grand Camlica Mosque in Istanbul, Turkiye on August 30.
The blue supermoon rises above the Apollo Temple in ancient Corinth, Greece, on August 30.
The blue supermoon rises behind the Royal Liver Building and the Liver Bird statues on August 30 in … [+]
The blue supermoon is seen over Porto, Portugal, on August 30.
The blue supermoon rises behind the landmark monument ‘The Victor’ in Belgrade, Serbia, on August … [+]
The blue supermoon rises over the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, on August 30.
Further Reading
Super Blue Moons: Your Questions Answered (NASA)
How The Super Blue Moon Could Make Hurricane Idalia’s Storm Surge Even Worse (Forbes)
The Truth About The ‘Blue Supermoon,’ Next Week’s Biggest Full Moon Of 2023 (Forbes)
