In the cool evening of August 30, 2023, gazers from around the world turned their eyes towards an enchanting sight in the night sky – a Super Blue Moon. This celestial wonder, while not blue or super in dimensions, is a rare occurrence that last happened over a decade ago in 2009 and is not expected again until 2037, as reported by NASA.
Unpacking the Super Blue Moon Phenomenon
The term ‘Super Blue Moon’ is an amalgamation of two astronomical occurrences – a supermoon and a blue moon. The distinctive feature of a supermoon is its close alignment with Earth during its orbit, resulting in an enhanced appearance of size and brightness from our view. This is due to the moon’s location at the perigee stage of its elliptical orbit around Earth. Despite the subtlety of this difference, the phenomenon can be accentuated when viewed near the horizon due to an optical illusion, causing the moon to seem substantially larger. The term “supermoon” was first coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.
On the other hand, a blue moon typically refers to an event where a second full moon occurs within a single month. Contrary to its nomenclature, the color of a blue moon remains unchanged. However, it is worth noting that under certain conditions, specifically when smoke or dust particles are present in the atmosphere, they can scatter red light wavelengths, causing the moon to take on a more bluish hue in some locations. This, however, is unrelated to the term ‘blue’ moon.
Impact of the Super Blue Moon
While the super blue moon may be an exhilarating sight for stargazers, there is little cause for concern regarding its impact on our planet. One minor effect of the supermoon phase is its subtle influence on tidal patterns. This is due to the moon’s gravitational pull, which is slightly stronger during a supermoon, causing minor fluctuations in coastal high and low tides. The variations, however, are typically so minute that they do not result in any significant disruptions or pose any substantial risks.
Complementary Astronomical Phenomena: Total Lunar Eclipse
Similar to the Super Blue Moon, another extraordinary astronomical event that has fascinated humankind for ages is the total lunar eclipse. This happens when the Earth comes in between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow on the latter and leading to a temporary obscuration of the moon’s surface. It is an event widely studied by astronomers and often clubbed with other lunar occurrences like supermoons and blue moons, to understand the various aspects of lunar science.
The Super Blue Moon is a rare astronomical occurrence that combines the phenomena of a supermoon and a blue moon. Despite the names, the moon does not appear larger or bluer but it does captivate audiences around the world who are lucky enough to witness it.
