Science & Technology
Don’t miss tonight’s rare Super Blue Moon
People around the world can experience a rare celestial event tonight, Wednesday 30 August, by simply looking at the moon – or rather the Super Blue Moon.
According to NASA, a blue moon is when we see the full moon twice in a single month.
Don’t take the name too literally though as the moon will not be blue. However, on rare occasions, tiny particles in the air, typically of smoke or dust, can scatter away red wavelengths of light, causing the moon to appear blue.
This Blue Moon will be a supermoon, meaning the moon is closer to earth than is normal. And it is the third of four supermoons in a row but this one will be the biggest, and closest full supermoon of 2023.
Wednesday’s supermoon also coincides with planet Saturn, that can be seen in the sky near to the moon, also in her planetary position closest to the earth for 2023.
The next Super Blue Moon won’t be seen until January 2037, according to NASA.
NASA also said the Super Blue Moon is set to appear on Wednesday and the moon will appear full until around Friday morning.
Saturn will also appear just near the moon.