We humans are used to having a large source of light in the night sky. The Moon has been reflecting the Sun's rays off the surface almost as long as the Earth has existed, so most of the time we pay little attention to it. But every once in a while, the Moon gets so big that it's practically impossible to ignore: it becomes a supermoon.
A supermoon is a type of full moon. It is a term that has been used since 1979, when astrologer Richard Nolle decided to call it a new or full moon, which occurs when the satellite is within 90 percent of its closest approach to the Earth (perigee).
For the rest of us, supermoons are the celestial body's biggest and brightest displays, and because they don't happen very often, they're spectacular enough to be almost scary to some people. So scary, in fact, that some have linked them, without any evidence to support the claim, to an increased risk of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
The last supermoon was visible on September 29, 2023, which means we haven't had one this year. However, for the rest of 2024, no less than four supermoons are on the way. The first, the so-called Blue Moon, will be visible on August 19 at 2:26 PM EDT and will maintain its full size and brightness for nearly three days.
The event is not called Blue Moon because the satellite takes on this color. In fact, no one really knows why it is called that, but the fact is that people have been using this term since way back in 1528.
Explanations of the meaning of the term range from the fact that it has its roots in an old English phrase meaning “Treacherous Moon,” because it led people to set incorrect dates for Lent and Easter, demonstrating the rarity of such events.
Currently, the term is used to refer to the second full Moon in a month that has two full Moons, or the third full Moon in a season with four full Moons. The one we will have next week falls into the second category.
As I said before, not counting next week's event, there will be three more supermoons in the rest of 2024, and the ones visible in September and October will be the closest of the year.
During the supermoon phase, the Moon is at its closest to our planet. This can only happen up to four times a year, and when it does, the satellite appears up to 14 percent larger in diameter than it normally appears, and 30 percent brighter.
There are no special precautions to follow to enjoy the supermoon. Just look at the sky: it will be impossible not to see it.
