As millions of stargazers around the world looked at the sky Wednesday night, they saw a full moon appearing larger than average. It was another “supermoon” — the second one in August 2023, making it a “blue moon.”
What is a blue moon?
Unlike what the name suggests, a blue moon is not actually blue in color. Rather, it signifies the second full moon within a single month — hence the phrase, “once in a blue moon.”
What is a supermoon?
The “supermoon” phenomenon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full. While around 25% of full moons are supermoons, just 3% of full moons are blue moons, according to NASA.
On average, supermoons are about 16% brighter than an average moon. They also appear bigger than the average full moon — with NASA comparing the size difference to that between a quarter and a nickel.
Saturn could also be seen appearing alongside the moon wherever skies were clear — adding to the celestial celebration.
Here are some photos of the super blue moon from around the world.
New York, New York
Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
San Francisco, California
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Edinburgh, Scotland
Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images
Kashmir, India
Kabli Yawar Nazir / Getty Images
Darwin, Australia
DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images
Istanbul, Turkey
Chris McGrath / Getty Images
When will the next super blue moon be?
Those who missed seeing a blue moon will have to wait quite a while before the next one in May 2026. And if you’re waiting for the next super blue moon, it’ll be even longer — until 2037, when astronomy fans will get to see super blue moons in January and March.
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