On Sunday night, a rare celestial event occurred as the full supermoon took on a dramatic red hue. This phenomenon, known as a "red supermoon," was visible across the United Kingdom, and there is still an opportunity to catch a glimpse of it in the coming days.
Contrary to its name, the "blue moon" does not actually result in the moon appearing blue. Instead, the red coloration was caused by smoke particles from North American wildfires that were sitting in the atmosphere above the UK. These smoke particles scattered light in such a way that the orange and red wavelengths of the spectrum became more prominent, giving the moon a reddish glow.
The presence of the smoke also led to hazy skies and an orange-tinged sunset on Sunday evening. However, as cloud and rain move in from the west on Monday, the smoke particles are expected to start clearing from the atmosphere.
The term "blue moon" is used to describe the second full moon that occurs within a single calendar month. This is due to the fact that the lunar cycle is approximately 29.5 days, which can occasionally result in a 13th full moon in a year, rather than the usual 12.
Alternatively, a blue moon can also refer to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons, rather than the typical three. This less common occurrence is thought to be the origin of the phrase "once in a blue moon."
This full moon is also classified as a "supermoon." A supermoon occurs when the moon's fullest phase coincides with the point in its orbit when it is closest to the Earth, known as the perigee. This can cause the moon to appear slightly brighter and larger in the night sky.
This supermoon is the first of four that will occur this year. The full moons of September, October (the closest of the year), and November will also be considered supermoons.
As for viewing the blue supermoon tonight, it will reach 100% fullness at 19:25 BST on Monday evening. However, the moon will not rise until around 20:50 BST, by which time it may not be clearly visible due to clouds and patchy rain expected to move across the UK.
The best chance of catching a glimpse of the blue supermoon may come on Tuesday night, even though it will not be technically full at that point. The skies are expected to be clearer, offering a better opportunity to observe the near-full supermoon.
Reference: Simon K. (19 Aug, 2024) Rare Blue Supermoon Appears Red in Stunning Celestial Display
Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/c984wlypkrdo In pictures: Blue supermoon glows red
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