Super Blue Moon dazzles UK stargazers

author: FutureCar Staff    

A rare super blue moon has graced the skies over the UK, providing stargazers with a unique phenomenon that will only occur once this year.

Contrary to its name, a blue moon does not refer to the color of the moon, but rather to the occurrence of a second full moon within a single calendar month.

Typically, most months only have one full moon, making the appearance of a second full moon a relatively rare event that happens approximately every two or three years.

The super blue moon was expected to rise at around 8pm (BST) on Thursday and set at around 6am (BST) the following day, but it actually shone on Wednesday night.

The optimal time to observe the moon is when local conditions are conducive to clear skies, such as low cloud cover, favorable weather, and no obstructions on the horizon, such as buildings or trees.

Astronomer Professor Don Pollacco, from the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick, explained that the apparent size of the Moon can be similar to that of the Sun due to the Moon's proximity to Earth, despite its smaller size.

He further explained that supermoons occur when there is a full moon at the point when the Moon is closest to Earth, resulting in the Moon appearing larger (10-15%) and brighter (25-30%) than a normal full moon.

Prof Pollacco emphasized that the moon's brightness allows it to be visible even in less than ideal conditions, such as when it's not particularly dark or the weather isn't clear. The moon will remain visible throughout the night and set in the west around sunrise.

Dr Greg Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, noted that August brings together two rare astronomical events: a blue moon and a supermoon. However, he mentioned that both events have somewhat complex definitions that are not universally accepted.

He explained that a blue moon is commonly defined as the second full moon in one calendar month, while a supermoon occurs when the moon is in the closest part of its orbit around Earth. The exact proximity required to classify it as a "super" moon is still a matter of debate.

During this time, the Moon will appear slightly larger and brighter than usual, although the difference may be difficult to perceive with the naked eye.

FutureCar Staff