On Monday, August 19, 2024, at precisely 2:26 pm ET, skywatchers will be treated to a rare astronomical event - a Blue Supermoon in the sign of Aquarius. This full moon is not just any full moon; it바카라s a Blue Moon, a phenomenon that adds a touch of mystique to the night sky.
What is a Blue Moon?
A Blue Moon is a special type of full moon that falls into one of two categories. The more familiar occurrence is when two full moons appear within a single calendar month. In this case, the second full moon is dubbed a 바카라Blue Moon바카라 or a 바카라calendrical Blue Moon.바카라 Another type is a 바카라seasonal Blue Moon,바카라 which is defined as the third full moon in a season that has four full moons, rather than the usual three.
Science behind the Blue Moon
The moon바카라s cycle lasts about 29.5 days, just slightly shorter than the average length of a calendar month. Because of this, occasionally, a full moon will appear at the very beginning of a month, allowing time for a second full moon to rise before the month ends바카라this is when a Blue Moon occurs. Blue Moons are not as uncommon as the phrase might suggest; they typically happen every two to three years.
Is the Blue Moon actually blue?
Despite its name, a Blue Moon doesn바카라t usually appear blue in color. However, under certain atmospheric conditions바카라such as those following large-scale forest fires or major volcanic eruptions바카라the moon can take on a blueish hue. This rare color shift occurs when ash particles in the atmosphere scatter red light, leaving the moon with a blue-green tint.
August Blue Moon
This August바카라s Blue Moon is a seasonal one, the third of four full moons between the summer solstice and the fall equinox. Such seasonal Blue Moons are even rarer than their monthly counterparts. After this celestial event, the next Blue Moon won바카라t grace the skies until May 31, 2026, when it will appear in the sign of Sagittarius.
The origins of the term "Blue Moon"
The term 바카라Blue Moon바카라 has an intriguing history, often linked to an old English phrase meaning 바카라to betray.바카라 According to The Farmer바카라s Almanac, the moon may have been considered 바카라belewe바카라 or "blue" because it betrayed the usual expectation of one full moon per month. Over time, the phrase came to signify something rare or unusual.
Interestingly, the term is also said to have roots in a 16th-century pamphlet by two friars who criticized the Roman church, arguing that people were gullible enough to believe even the most absurd statements, such as 바카라the moon is blue바카라 or 바카라the moon is a ball of cheese.바카라
A supermoon experience
This Blue Moon is also a Supermoon, which means it will appear larger and brighter than a typical full moon because it occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. This combination of a Blue Moon and a Supermoon makes the event on August 19 an extraordinary sight worth stepping outside for.
