There was a Full Moon shining bright Australian skies on the 2nd of August at 4:32 am AEST. Another Full Moon is set to appear on the 31st of August at 11:36 am AEST or 15:36 UTC. This second moon is commonly referred to as a super ‘blue moon’ by the media who just seem to grab northern hemisphere based info and release it as news. This will be our third and final ‘supermoon’ this year.
So please do not get too excited by media hype. It is important to note that a blue moon is only ‘blue’ in name. It is simply a result of our calendars and time zones.
There are various definitions for a blue moon, but the most widely accepted one is that it is the second full moon in a month or the fourth full moon in a quarter. Typically, there are 12 full moons in a year, but occasionally there are 13, leading to a blue moon occurring every two to three years. The next Super Blue Moon is expected in 2029.
The Full Moon on the 2nd of August also marked 2023’s second Supermoon and the first of the month, visible worldwide.
A Supermoon is a great photo opportunity. Normally, the Moon follows an elliptical orbit around the Earth, resulting in varying distances from our planet. The closest point in this orbit is known as “perigee,” while the farthest point is called “apogee.” A Supermoon occurs when a full moon aligns with or is near its perigee, making it appear larger and brighter in the sky. It can be up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a moon at apogee, also known as a micromoon.
Therefore, a supermoon is essentially a full moon that is closer to Earth than usual, giving it a larger and brighter appearance to us. Like all full moons rising it is a fascinating sight to behold in the night sky!
A similar super blue Moon event will not take place until 2029, which is where the phrase “Once in a blue moon” originated.
The Full Moon on the 31st of August also marked 2023’s third Supermoon and second of the month and in fact is the closest the Moon gets to us this year – these events are visible worldwide.
Normally, the Moon follows an elliptical orbit around the Earth, resulting in varying distances from our planet. The closest point in this orbit is known as “perigee,” while the farthest point is called “apogee.” A Supermoon occurs when a full moon aligns with or is near its perigee, making it appear larger and brighter in the sky. It can be up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a moon at apogee, also known as a micromoon.
It is important to note that a blue moon is only ‘blue’ in name only. It is simply a result of our calendars and time zones.
There are various definitions for a blue moon, but the most widely accepted one is that it is the second full moon in a month or the fourth full moon in a quarter. Typically, there are 12 full moons in a year, but occasionally there are 13, leading to a blue moon occurring every two to three years. The next Super Blue Moon is expected in 2029.
