August is here to bless the Space City space cadets. Not only did we get treated to the miraculous Perseid meteor shower but we will also get a chance to witness the rare and extraordinary Blue Moon. Get your star maps out, adjust your telescopes – or don’t – and mark your calendars for the stellar phenomenon!
What is a blue moon?
We’ll rip this band-aid off right now, the blue moon is not actually blue. Despite its misleading name, a blue moon has more to do with the sequence of full moons in a calendar season.
The blue moon actually has two definitions. Per NASA, a seasonal blue moon denotes the occurrence of the third full moon in a four full moon season. Its second definition and its most commonly understood meaning stems from a misunderstanding of the first, which signifies the second full moon within a single month.
All that said, there was a blue moon back in 1883 that was actually blue. Following the eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia, ash was cast 50 miles into the sky filtering the light to give the moon a distinct blue hue. Volcanic eruptions in Mexico in 1983, Mt. St. Helens in 1980, and Mount Pinatubo in 1991 all created the same effect.
How often do blue moons occur?
As the expression “once in a blue moon” suggests, the occurrence of a blue moon is a relatively rare phenomenon. The moon completes its cycle in roughly 29 days, whereas most months last between 30 and 31 days.
As such, it takes nearly a year for there to be 12 lunar cycles making the occurrence of two full moons occurring in the same month a rare phenomenon that happens every two and a half years. The last blue moon occurred on August 30, 2023.
What is a supermoon?
A Supermoon occurs when the Full Moon reaches or approaches its closest distance to Earth during its orbit. This proximity causes the Moon to look noticeably larger and brighter in the night sky. Supermoons happen several times a year, typically around 3-4 times, making them a frequent yet still remarkable celestial event.
When to see the blue moon in Houston?
You can witness the blue moon in Houston beginning at 1:26 pm on Monday, August 19, 2024.
See also: 73 awesome things to do this August in Houston