In a breathtaking celestial event that has captured the hearts of sky gazers across India, a rare and wondrous blue supermoon is poised to illuminate our night sky.
This extraordinary spectacle is set to grace us on the evening of August 31, when the full moon ascends majestically into the heavens. Picture this: a supermoon, when the moon's orbit brings it remarkably close to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than its everyday self. Think of it as the moon's grand performance, occurring when it swings by at its closest point to Earth, a mere 360,000 kilometers away. These supermoons, with their celestial charm, grace us with their presence only three or four times each year.
When Can We Gaze Upon the Blue Supermoon?
The anticipation is building as the blue supermoon is scheduled to make its dazzling appearance at 07:05 IST, casting a spellbinding glow across the landscape. During this spectacle, the moon will don its finest attire, appearing 14 percent larger and shining with a brilliance that surpasses the ordinary Micro-moon by a dazzling 30 percent. Shilpi Gupta, the Scientific Officer at the MP Birla Planetarium in Kolkata, shares with us the moon's plan: it will draw closest to Earth at 9:24 PM on Wednesday, culminating in its radiant full moon display on Thursday.
Which Cities in India Will Be Touched by the Blue Supermoon's Light?
The enchantment of this rare blue supermoon is a gift for all of India, as cities across the nation are set to witness this celestial marvel. Of course, this comes with a wish for clear skies and favorable weather conditions. The celestial spectacle will accompany us throughout the night, with the moon rising gracefully as the sun sets and continuing to enchant us until the first rays of dawn.
Why is it Called a Blue Supermoon?
An important note here – the term "blue moon" doesn't paint a picture of the moon's color. Instead, it signifies a rather special occurrence: the appearance of a second full moon within a single calendar month. This is a relatively rare event, occurring only every two to three years.
Now, let's talk about the rarest of the rare – a blue supermoon, where these two celestial events align. The last time we were graced by this enchanting phenomenon was in December 2009, and the next is slated for January 2037, according to the experts at NASA. However, there are those magical moments when the moon takes on a hint of blue due to tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere. These particles, often from volcanic eruptions or wildfires, are around 1 micron wide and scatter away the red wavelengths of light, giving the moon a captivating blue tint. A famous example of this happened after the eruption of Krakatoa when ash plumes filled with these light-scattering particles turned the moon into a bewitching shade of blue.