Once-in-a-decade event! Super Blue Moon appears over India tonight
Skywatchers in India are in for a celestial treat tonight with the appearance of a rare phenomenon - a Super Blue Moon. This unique event combines two lunar occurrences: a Supermoon and a Blue Moon. The event coincides with the Indian festival of Raksha Bandhan, adding cultural significance to its rarity. According to NASA, this special phenomenon will be visible from Monday night into Tuesday in India.
Super Blue Moon: A rare celestial convergence
The Super Blue Moon is an unusual convergence of a Supermoon and a Blue Moon. A Supermoon occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter. On the other hand, a Blue Moon refers to either the third full moon in a season with four full moons or the second full moon in a single calendar month.
Supermoon's visual appeal and upcoming occurrences
The term Supermoon was first introduced by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. It describes a full or new moon that coincides with the Moon's closest approach to Earth, known as perigee. This proximity makes the Moon appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual, contributing to its visual appeal. Tonight's Supermoon is the first of four consecutive supermoons in 2024, with September and October events also expected to be visually striking.
Super Blue Moon's frequency and future appearances
The combination of a Supermoon and a Blue Moon is exceptionally rare, occurring nearly every 10 years. Only about 25% of full moons are Supermoons, and around 3% are Blue Moons. The next Super Blue Moons are expected in January and March 2037. Despite its name, the Moon will not actually appear blue during this event unless atmospheric particles like smoke or dust scatter red light.
