Have you ever wondered what the expression “once in a blue moon” means? Now, you now have a chance to see a real blue moon in the sky. This rare astronomical event will take place on August 22, 2021.
What’s Special About the August Blue Moon?
As stargazers and astronomers know, a full moon appears every month, and August’s moon is the sturgeon moon. If that’s the case, how can August have a blue moon this year?
The answer is that this blue moon is what’s called seasonal rather than calendar. Seasonal blue moons are even rarer than calendar blue moons.
Rare and Exciting Event
How can a month have two full moons? It can’t. The fact is that the August full moon happens to be both a blue moon and a regular monthly moon.
Full moons occur roughly every 29.5 days, which corresponds to a calendar month. Every full moon has its own name. The January moon, for instance, is known as the wolf moon, and the April full moon is named the pink moon.
The August moon is the sturgeon moon, which means the August full moon will be a sturgeon moon and a blue moon. Are you confused? Just consider them two different names for the same moon.
Moon lunar cycle in night sky.
What Makes It Blue?
Blue moons get that name from atmospheric conditions in the sky and on the moon’s surface. Volcanic ashes, smoke and moon dust can make the moon appear blue.
How Can You See the August Blue Moon?
The moon will become full on August 22 at 8:01 a.m. EST. It will be in the sky from Friday night to Monday morning.
To get precise viewing times in your area, check the TimeandDate website, which gives accurate times for moonrises and moonsets. Don’t miss out. After all, this amazing astronomical experience only happens once in a blue moon.
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