Don’t Miss the Year’s Most Spectacular Lunar Display: The Blue Supermoon

Nov 17, 2023

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A rare blue supermoon, described as the most impressive lunar display of the year, will grace the skies this week. The celestial event, visible on the night of August 30, is expected to be an extraordinary spectacle, with the moon appearing up to 7% larger than usual. Sky-watchers can also anticipate a particularly bright Saturn as it reaches opposition, where it sits directly opposite the sun from Earth’s perspective.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with its perigee, or closest approach to Earth, making it appear more prominent and luminous. A blue moon, contrary to common belief, does not refer to the moon’s color but signifies the occurrence of two full moons within the same calendar month. This upcoming blue supermoon is even more remarkable as it combines these two phenomena.

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Californians are especially well-positioned to witness this celestial spectacle, given the state’s clear skies and vast, light-pollution-free areas. Notably, this year’s blue supermoon is touted as more significant than the previous one in 2018 due to its exceptional size and brightness.