The Raksha Bandhan full moon on August 30-31 marked a unique celestial event, serving as both a “blue moon” and a “super moon.” This rare occurrence, referred to as a “Super Blue Moon,” involves the alignment of three phenomena. A super moon arises when the moon is at its perigee, its closest point to Earth in an elliptical orbit, resulting in a larger and brighter appearance. A blue moon denotes two full moons in a single month. Despite the name, it’s not about color but timing. NASA notes that blue supermoons are exceedingly rare, occurring roughly once every ten years due to specific astronomical conditions.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Super Moon: A super moon happens when the moon is near its closest point to Earth (perigee) during its full moon phase, making it appear larger and brighter in the sky.
- Blue Moon: A blue moon occurs when two full moons appear within a single month, a phenomenon that happens approximately every two to three years. It’s not related to the moon’s color.
- Perigee and Apogee: Perigee is the moon’s nearest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, while apogee is the farthest. Super moons occur when the moon is at perigee.
- New Moon: The new moon is the moon’s invisible phase when its illuminated side faces away from Earth. It occurs when the moon is between the Earth and the Sun.