August’s full moon is a rare, beautiful super blue moon! The last time Boston witnessed this kind of moon was October 2023!
As they say, “once in a blue moon,” they’re referring to this moon too, which is just as rare as the idiom intends. This seasonal blue moon usually occurs only once per year, in late summer or early fall.
August’s super moon will also be the first supermoon of 2024! According to Time and Date, it’ll be two years until we witness another moon like this! “The Blue Moon on August 19 is a seasonal Blue Moon. After this, you have to wait until May 31, 2026 for a monthly Blue Moon.”
Is the blue moon a Sturgeon moon?
August’s full moon will be extra rare because it’ll not only be a blue super moon, but also a Sturgeon Moon. This monthly moon, attributed to August, is named after the fish, which also happens to be North America’s largest fish!
The Sturgeon Moon shares names with the Grain Moon, Corn Moon, Lynx Moon, and Lightning Moon. The moon took this name after the sturgeon was found in large numbers around this time.
Best time for blue supermoon rising
If you’re here, you probably really just want to know when to witness this stunning celestial event! Well, the best time to catch August’s Super Blue Moon is Monday, August 19, 2024 at 2:25 PM EST. The supermoon is around for about three days but August 19, 2024, is peak illumination.
Is it actually blue?
This one’s a complicated answer. The name actually has nothing to do with the color of the moon and was adopted from the Maine Farmer’s Almanac. However, atmospheric conditions during this time could tint the moon an indigo color like in the picture above.