Rare “Super Blue” Moon Lights Up the Night Sky This Week—Here’s When to Look
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As our closest celestial neighbor, the moon is second only to the sun as an unmissable presence overhead. But its changing phases make it something of a permanent performer, outshining even the brightest stars and orbiting close enough for viewers on Earth to make out details of its surface without needing a telescope . Every so often, this dynamic behavior includes spectacular views, and this week, a rare “super blue” moon will light up the night sky. Read on to see when you should plan to look up to glimpse it for yourself.
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If you’re hoping to make the most of the remaining summer nights, this week has one excellent reason to spend a little time outdoors. A “super blue moon” will rise as our orbiting neighbor hits its full phase in a rare combination of lunar events , Space.com reports.
As the phrase is famously not literal, the relatively rare “blue moon” refers to the fact that this full moon will be the second of this month. But while it won’t be a different color, it will still appear somewhat differently as a “supermoon.” This means the full moon is taking place just as it reaches its perigee, or the point in its orbit where it’s closest to Earth.
While even regular full moons can be an impressive sight, a “supermoon” is even more striking. The glowing orb will appear brighter and about 14 percent larger in the sky, according to NASA.
RELATED: The Next Total Solar Eclipse Will Be the Last Until 2044, NASA Says .
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August has not been in short supply for must-see astronomical events. Besides showcasing a few impressive meteor showers , the month’s first full phase also produced a supermoon. But even though this is the second of the month and the third of 2023, this “super blue” moon will also be the biggest and brightest of the year as it comes closer to the Earth than it will at any other point, just 357,344 kilometers away, Forbes reports.
Stargazers will have one more opportunity to catch a supermoon this year when our orbiting satellite reaches its full phase again next month on Sept. 29. However, this is the first time a blue moon of any kind has taken place since Aug. 2021, according to Space.com.
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Fortunately, if you plan on taking in the “super blue” moon for yourself, you won’t have to stay up late or get up before your alarm. It will rise on the night of Wednesday, Aug. 30, climbing above the horizon not long after sunset. And while it will be hard to miss the bright, glowing object in the sky, you can look for a viewing spot with an unobstructed view of the east if you want to catch it as early as possible, according to Space.com.
If weather conditions in your area cooperate, the moon will appear both brighter and larger. The difference between a supermoon and a typical full moon is approximately the same size difference as a quarter and a nickel, according to NASA. And even though it might not turn blue, the moon could take on a stark orange as it first appears above the horizon, making early viewing even more of a special treat.
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But it’s not just the moon that will be bright in the sky on Aug. 30. Saturn will also be rising near it, glimmering at its biggest and most brilliant of the year, as well, Space.com reports.
Even though it’s much farther away than the moon, our famously ringed neighbor will be just a few days past its point in its orbit where the sun’s light hits it most directly from Earth’s vantage point, making it shine more brilliantly than usual. You’ll be able to spot it by looking just above and to the right of the moon around the area of the constellation Aquarius, per Space.com. And while you should be able to see it without any instruments, binoculars or a telescope could help you make out some of the planet’s features.
The Next Total Solar Eclipse Will Be the Last Until 2044, NASA Says
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Whether you’re a casual stargazer or a devoted amateur astronomer, there’s no denying that there’s something special about witnessing a rare celestial event like a solar eclipse. Besides the fact that they only occur a few times each decade, getting a good view can come down to where you live having the right weather conditions. If you’d love to witness a solar eclipse anytime soon, you may want to mark off your calendars. NASA says the next one will be the last you can see from the U.S. until 2044. Read on for more info on how to catch this unique event.
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If catching a major cosmic event has been an item on your bucket list, you might want to grab your calendar . On Apr. 8, 2024, North America will have front-row seats to a total solar eclipse for the first time since 2017. But besides being a relatively rare event in and of itself, this will also be the last opportunity to view a full eclipse from within the contiguous United States until Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.
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Even though many areas across the U.S. will be treated to at least a partial eclipse, only places that are in the total eclipse’s direct path will get to experience the moon entirely blocking out the sun . The first sight of totality on the continent will start on Mexico’s Pacific Coast before it becomes visible stateside around noon in Texas, according to NASA. From there, the path will continue north through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before leaving the U.S. in the late afternoon.
Viewers in Canada will be able to experience the eclipse as it begins its path through Southern Ontario and eventually makes its way through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will disappear from North America as it passes off the East Coast of Canada in the early evening.
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So long as weather conditions remain favorable, part of what makes the experience of a total solar eclipse so special is the truly unique conditions it can create for those in its path. During the initial partial eclipse phase—or for those watching in areas outside of the total eclipse’s path—viewers will first notice a crescent blocking out part of the sun as the moon slightly covers the star while wearing the appropriate safety glasses, according to NASA.
For a few fleeting moments before the sun is covered, spectators might also be able to catch sight of Baily’s Beads, which are glimmers of light that form bright spots as sunlight passes through crags, craters, and valleys on the moon. A sharp, bright spot on the edge of the moon’s shadow known as the “diamond ring” will then appear, named for its resemblance to a sparkling piece of jewelry.
The moment the sun is completely blocked out is known as “totality,” marking the only point of the experience you can watch directly without protective glasses. Spectators might be able to make out different parts of the sun’s atmosphere, including a pink ring created by the star’s chromosphere or rays of white light from the corona. But while the view above is spectacular, sights on the ground can be just as surreal as conditions can create “a 360-degree sunset,” planets and bright stars can become briefly visible, the air temperature can drop, and “often an eerie silence will settle around you,” NASA describes.
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If you’re already excited to catch a glimpse of the rare celestial event for the last time until 2044, it might not be a bad idea to start preparing for the experience. Arguably most importantly, NASA warns you’ll need the correct specially designed safe solar viewing glasses or handheld viewer to actually be able to see it . Otherwise, you’ll need to use an indirect viewing technique, such as a pinhole projector.
“Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright face, it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing,” the space agency warns, clarifying that normal sunglasses won’t offer sufficient protection. “Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.”
And besides ensuring you have the proper equipment, you might also want to consider arranging a place to stay if you have to travel to witness the event. Cities along the path of totality will likely see a large influx of tourists scooping up available lodging, with Ross saying organizers expect anywhere between 375,000 to 500,000 people to descend upon Rochester alone.
“We’ve been starting to spread the word really since 2019 by meeting and also kind of designating everyone as an eclipse ambassador, so everyone watching right now, get ready because all of your out-of-town relatives are coming here [and] they’re gonna want to stay in your house,” Ross told WROC.
