Blue alert… And we’re not talking about FC Porto’s victory in the Portuguese Super Cup, although that would also make sense. In fact, here we are referring to another astronomical phenomenon: the Blue Moon.
After Strawberry Full Moon and Deer Full Moon not forgetting the spectacular Perseids whose peak activity is expected to be from August 11 to 12, you now have another reason to look at the sky.
But what exactly is the blue supermoon? What specific characteristics does it have? Is it really blue? And when will you be able to watch it? All these questions will be answered here and now.
What is the Blue Moon?
According to star Walk the origin of this moon’s name is not very clear, but its reference goes back at least four centuries. At the time, it explicitly meant something that could never happen. It is therefore related to the English expression “once in a Blue Moon”.
Blue Moons can be calendrical or seasonal, but according to the information consulted, the 2024 Blue Moon is seasonal. In fact, according to the specializedwebsite “Meteored. Tempo.pt”, this is a good explanation to better understand the phenomenon:
Most seasons contain three full moons, but on some occasions, like this summer, there are four. In such a rare sequence, the third moon is called the Blue Moon. “
When will you be able to admire this spectacle?
As is usual in this type of situation, for better observation it is best to keep a certain distance from light pollution, away from large urban centers. However, that doesn’t mean that, if the weather helps, it’s impossible to see it from the city.
If you want to keep this astronomical event in your diary, then point it out: august 19th. After that, according to the star Walk the next seasonal Blue Moon won’t be visible until May 20, 2027.
Are the shades really blue?
Although there are many photographs that show the lunar satellite taking on a bluish hue, this is no guarantee, as it appears in gray and whitish skies.
In this context, it’s fair to say that the bluish hue will depend to a large extent on the weather conditions. But in any case, it’s an astronomical phenomenon of rare beauty that deserves to be contemplated!