See how the only ‘blue supermoon’ of 2024 triggered a lunar eclipse

Did you see the entire “blue supermoon” last night? If not, don’t worry—it will look almost as good tonight—but last night it was 100% illuminated as seen from Earth.

A rare celestial event: The only “blue supermoon” of the year graced the night sky. This spectacular event was captured by photographers around the world. Here are some of the best images:

The term “blue moon” is often used to refer to the second full moon within a calendar month. This can occur because the moon becomes full every 29.5 days. However, there is another, more traditional definition: the third of four full moons within an astronomical season.

The current season – summer in the northern hemisphere – began with the solstice on June 20th and ends with the equinox on September 22nd. During this time we had the “strawberry moon” on June 21st and the “goat moon” on July 21st. Last night’s “blue supermoon” will be followed by the “harvest moon” on September 17th (also a supermoon, by the way).

This month’s full moon was also the first “supermoon” of the year. It coincided with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, known as perigeewhich also makes it a “supermoon”. “Supermoons” also occur in September, October and November.

On his perigeethe moon is about 357,000 km from the center of the earth and appears larger in the sky than during Climax (its farthest point) when it is about 406,000 km away.

The full moon in August is commonly called the Sturgeon Moon. This name was given to it by the early Native American tribes who lived along the Great Lakes and caught sturgeon at this time of year.

A phenomenon called Raleigh scattering explains why the full moon looks orange when it appears on the eastern horizon at dusk. It is precisely because the full moon is viewed near the horizon that it is seen through the densest part of the Earth’s atmosphere. Reddish light can pass through more easily because its longer wavelength means it hits fewer particles.

Although the full moon is a beautiful sight, it is best observed when it is not so bright. Additionally, when the moon is not quite full, there is a line called the terminator line – where day meets night – that allows the observer to see shadows cast from east to west on the lunar surface.

Every month there is a full moon, as our natural satellite orbits the Earth. At one point it is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, so its entire disk is fully illuminated. The Moon is now entering its waning phase, where it rises later and appears less illuminated. Its brightness decreases as its eastern edge falls into shadow.

In two weeks it will reach a new moon, which will be roughly between the Earth and the Sun, so it will disappear in its glow for a few days before appearing as a crescent in the western night sky after sunset.

The next “blue moon” will be on May 31, 2026, when there is a “monthly blue moon.” The following “seasonal blue moon” will occur on May 20, 2027.

The next full moon will be the complete “Super Harvest Moon Eclipse” on Wednesday, September 18 – the ninth of twelve full moons in 2024. Not only is it a “supermoon,” but in space it will also partially pass through Earth’s outer shadow.

Pick up my books Stargazing in 2024, A stargazing program for beginnersAnd When is the next solar eclipse?

I wish you big eyes and clear skies.