TEMPLE, Texas — The full moon this August is expected to be an especially impressive sight, being not just one, but two special events.
NASA says the full moon will take place on Monday, Aug. 19, and is expected to be visible for around three days.
This will be no ordinary full moon however, this will be a supermoon, which occurs when a full moon takes place while the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth, according to NASA.
Since the moon is closer to Earth than normal, the supermoon appears even bigger and brighter in the sky.
Not only is this full moon, also known as the Sturgeon Moon, Red, Corn, Barley, Grain or Dog Moon, among others, a supermoon; it is also a Blue Moon, the term for a second full moon in a month that has two full moons, or the third full moon in a season with four full moons, as in this case.
Despite the name, the Blue Moon does not necessarily look blue, but it is still a unique occurrence. According to NASA, Blue Moons take place about every two to three years, while supermoons usually happen three or four times a year.
The odds of a Blue supermoon however are much slimmer. NASA says the time between blue supermoons is typically around 10 years, but could range up to 20.
Aug. 19's super blue moon will be the first of four consecutive supermoons in 2024, according to NASA, promising several months of celestial spectacles.
More information about the super blue moon can be found on NASA's website at this link and this link.
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