The biggest and brightest full moon of 2023, known as the “blue Supermoon,” is set to rise on August 30. Despite its name, the moon will appear orange rather than Blue. The term “blue” refers to the fact that it is the second full moon in August. This occurrence is known as a “blue moon.” A blue moon happens when two full moons appear in the same month, which typically happens every two or three years.

There are two types of blue moons. The August blue supermoon falls into the category of a “calendar blue moon,” wherein two full moons occur in a single month. The second type is a “seasonal blue moon,” which refers to the third full moon out of four in a single astronomical season.

The “super” part of the blue supermoon refers to the moon’s proximity to Earth. A supermoon occurs when the full moon is at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. In August 2023, the blue supermoon will be the third and closest of the four supermoons of the year, coming within 90% of its perigee.

The blue supermoon on August 30 will be the biggest and brightest full moon of 2023. However, it will only be 20 miles closer to Earth than the full moon on August 1. The next notable full moon after the blue supermoon will be the Harvest Moon on September 29, which will also be a supermoon.

If you’re interested in observing the blue supermoon or getting started with skywatching and astronomy, there are various guides available to help you. Whether you’re in need of binoculars, telescopes, or astrophotography cameras, there are options to suit every preference.

Sources: Fred Espenak, timeanddate

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