Skywatchers in the UAE will be treated tonight to a rare celestial occurrence known as the ‘Super Blue Moon.’ However, despite its name, the moon’s colour will not change. It will instead look brighter and bigger than normal. A ‘Blue Moon’ occurs when there are two full moons in the same calendar month, but a ‘Supermoon’ occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, known as perigee. These two occurrences will collide tonight, resulting in a ‘Super Blue Moon.’
The International Astronomy Centre’s director, Engr. Mohammed Shaukat Awad, stressed that the term “blue” does not relate to the moon’s changing colour, but rather to the second full moon in a calendar month. The name ‘Supermoon’ refers to the alignment that occurs a few times every year when a full moon coincides with its closest distance to Earth.
More information was contributed by Ibrahim Al Jorwan, a member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences. A Supermoon occurs when the full moon aligns with its closest point to Earth, increasing its apparent size by around 15% compared to its furthest point. This occurrence occurs rarely three or four times every year.
This rare Super Blue Moon phenomenon will not occur again until 2037, so skywatchers should take advantage of this stunning sight tonight.
