Moongazers, we’ve got some very, very exciting news. Tonight will host one of the rarest events in the stargazing calendar, as a blue supermoon is set to be visible in UK skies. For context, blue supermoons only tend to occur every ten years or so.
From October’s ‘hunter’s moon’ to April’s ‘pink moon’, full moons are impressive sights to behold. Delighting moongazers on a monthly basis, they also somehow give avid astrologers an explanation for their emotions being all out of whack. This month we’ve been treated to not one but two gorgeous full moons in a cosmic occurrence that literally happens once in a blue moon.
The blue supermoon will happen tonight (yep, tonight!) on Wednesday, August 30. Here is everything you need to know, from the best time to see it to the moon’s spiritual meaning.
How to see the super blue moon in the UK tonight
So long as it’s not too cloudy, the Royal Observatory at Greenwich reckons that pretty much anyone will be able to see the super blue moon. For your best chances, however, you’ll need to be somewhere with clear weather and, ideally, away from sources of light pollution like towns and cities.
What’s the best time to see it in the UK?
The blue supermoon is set to peak at 2:35am in the early hours of August 31, though it should be visible throughout tonight (August 30-31).
Aside from at its peak, the best views of the super blue moon are said to be just before sunset tonight (at 8pm or so) or just before sunrise tomorrow (at around 6am).
When will there be another supermoon?
We’ve been spoiled for supermoons recently – and the next one won’t be for quite a while. The next supermoon in the UK is set for September 29, 2024.
What is a blue supermoon?
A blue supermoon combines a supermoon with a blue moon.
A supermoon occurs when a full moon is at its nearest point to Earth, meaning that the moon appears up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than at its furthest point.
A blue moon, however, is when there are two full moons within a single calendar month. Tonight’s moon is August’s second supermoon (after the one on August 1), meaning it is a blue supermoon.
Contrary to what you might expect, blue moons aren’t actually blue at all. According to Royal Museums Greenwich, they are the same colour as any other moon, with two rare exceptions. During a lunar eclipse, the moon can turn red, whilst dust particles in the atmosphere (from something like a volcanic eruption) can make it appear blue.
Why is it called a blue moon?
It’s called a blue moon because that’s the name given to the second full moon in a calendar month. August’s first full moon was on August 1.
When was the last blue moon?
The last blue moon in the UK was on August 22, 2021. They’re a rare sight, only occurring once every two or three years.
Is there any spiritual meaning?
Supermoons are typically seen to amplify the spiritual energy of the full moon, supposedly intensifying our connections with the world around us. You might expect to feel heightened emotions or have a bit more desire, imagination or intuition. If, of course, you’re a follower of all that mystical stuff.
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