If you miss August’s Super Blue Moon, you’ll have to wait 9 years for your next chance

August will host two supermoon events, with the second being a rare blue supermoon that won’t occur again until 2032.

What to expect: A supermoon occurs when the moon is full during its closest orbits to Earth, making it look up to 8% bigger and 16% brighter than a typical full moon.
* On August 30, there will be a rare blue supermoon, an event that refers to the occurrence of a second full moon in a single calendar month.
* The first supermoon event, named the Sturgeon Supermoon, will hit peak illumination at 2:32 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Looking back: The moon’s typical orbit ranges between 226,000 and 251,000 miles from Earth and only the closest three or four approaches each year qualify as supermoons.
* The last supermoon was on July 3.

Supermoon details: The term “once in a blue moon” is used to describe a rare but not infrequent event, as blue moons occur every two-and-a-half years.
* A blue supermoon, which combines the close orbit of a supermoon with the frequency condition of a blue moon, is much rarer, with the last one happening in 2009 and the next not due till 2032.

Get ready: This year’s blue supermoon will peak at 9

View original article on NPR

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