TClarkIII

Tonight, August 30, will be the second of two August super moons for this month. Each month, a full moon has a name. For August, the full moon is traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon (because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer).

But this is the second full moon in August, and if there is a second full moon during any calendar month, then that second full moon is known as a “Blue Moon”. But tonight's full moon is 1/3

Aug 30, 2023 at 12:20pmWeb
Show threadTClarkIIIAug 30, 2023

also a “Super Blue Moon”.

So, why is it a “Super Blue Moon”?

Because tonight's full moon will only be 222,043 miles from our Earth. That's the closest any moon has been during this last year.

Remember the phase “Once in a Blue Moon”? It's an idiom that means something that happens very rarely.

Well, an astronomical blue moon only happens about once every 2 years, 8 months, and 18 days. The next blue moon will be on May 31, 2026.

But, in 2037, an even rarer event will take place. There 2/3

Show threadTClarkIIIAug 30, 2023
will be two “Super Blue Moons”. The first one will be on January 30, at a distance of 219,781 miles. The second one on March 30, at a distance of 221,051 miles. 3/3