Current:Home > reviewsIndexbit Exchange:August 2024's full moon is a rare super blue moon: When to see it -WealthRoots Academy
Indexbit Exchange:August 2024's full moon is a rare super blue moon: When to see it
Fastexy View
Date:2025-04-10 06:45:05
August's full moon,Indexbit Exchange which is coming Monday August 19, has several names, including supermoon, blue moon and sturgeon moon. So what do they all mean?
The "super" part refers to the moon's orbit, which brings it slightly closer to Earth this month, upping its size and brightness. The "blue" part means that this is the third of four full moons this season, an unusual occurrence. As for "sturgeon," that refers to the Native American name for August's full moon.
How rare is the super/blue combination? A blue moon happens once every two or three years on average, according to NASA, but a blue moon that's also a supermoon is even more uncommon. The time between super blue moons can be as much as 20 years ― but in general, 10 years is the average.
The next super blue moon will be in January 2037.
When is August 2024's full moon?
The moon will reach its peak fullness at 2:26 p.m. EDT on Monday, August 19, 2024. Here in the U.S., it will be below the horizon at that time. However, the moon will look plenty full when it rises in the eastern sky Monday evening.
According to NASA, the moon will actually appear full for three days, from Sunday morning through early Wednesday morning.
What is a supermoon?
When the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual, this cosmic combo is called a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full. The term was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.
"Different publications use slightly different thresholds for deciding when a full moon is close enough to the Earth to qualify as a supermoon," NASA said. "Because the orbit of the moon is not a perfect circle, the moon is sometimes closer to the Earth than at other times during its orbit."
What is a blue moon?
There are two types of blue moons: seasonal and monthly. This one will be of the seasonal variety. That means that when there are four full moons in a single season (on this occasion, summer), the third of the four is considered a blue moon.
The second definition — which arose from a misunderstanding of the original — is the monthly blue moon, referring to the second full moon in a single calendar month.
Monday's full moon is unlikely to appear blue, however: Blue-colored moons in photos are usually made using special blue camera filters or photo editing apps.
The first recorded use of the term "Blue Moon" in English dates from 1528.
What about the sturgeon moon?
The naming of moons was a way for Native Americans to track the seasons and plan their activities. "August's full moon was traditionally called the sturgeon moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer," the Old Farmer's Almanac said.
Sturgeon fish were once found in great abundance, but their populations have declined greatly due to overfishing and habitat loss, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- At least 7 civilians killed and 20 others wounded after a minibus exploded in the Afghan capital
- North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood faces misdemeanor charge over misuse of state vehicle
- Springsteen, Keith Richards pen tributes to Bob Marley in photo book 'Rebel Music'
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Why Michael Strahan Has Been MIA From Good Morning America
- Amelia Hamlin Leaves Little to the Imagination With Nipple-Baring Dress at CFDA Awards
- Rhinestones on steering wheels may be a fashion statement, but they're a terrible idea. Here's why.
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Megan Fox Shares She Suffered Miscarriage While Pregnant With Her and Machine Gun Kelly's Baby
Ranking
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- The View's Ana Navarro Raises Eyebrows With Comment About Wanting to Breast Feed Maluma
- Bronny James aims to play for USC this season if he passes medical exam, LeBron James says
- Senate Republicans seek drastic asylum limits in emergency funding package
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Megan Fox Shares She Suffered Miscarriage While Pregnant With Her and Machine Gun Kelly's Baby
- 'Really lucky': Florida woman bit on head by 9-foot alligator walks away with scratches
- 40 Filipinos flee war-ravaged Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing and arrive in Egypt
Recommendation
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
Spanish author Luis Mateo Díez wins Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world’s top literary honor
Manchester City and Leipzig advance in Champions League. Veterans Pepe and Giroud shine
A prosecutor says a foreign link is possible to the dozens of Stars of David stenciled around Paris
Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
Possible leak of Nashville shooter's writings before Covenant School shooting under investigation
Uvalde mother whose daughter was killed in 2022 school shooting on the ballot for mayoral election
'The Voice': Gwen Stefani accuses Niall Horan of trying to 'distract' Mara Justine during steal