Everything you need to know about Wednesday’s Blue Moon

POLOKWANE – We’ve all heard the phrase “once in a blue moon,” which usually refers to something that rarely happens. Blue moons do sometimes happen in Earth’s night sky, giving rise to this phrase according to NASA. 

Moon lovers in and around the city will be able to experience a full blue moon, also known as the Sturgeon Moon on Wednesday, 30 August.

The next blue moon will only be sighted in its seasonal time in August 2024.

According to NASA, a full moon occurs approximately once a month, but it is not always perfectly full due to the rotation, which means that we always see the same side of the moon.

The moon is only 100% full when the moon, Earth, and sun are perfectly aligned, which can result in a lunar eclipse.

Here is some interesting facts you need to know about the Sturgeon or Blue Moon on Wednesday:

• In astronomy, a season is the period of time between a solstice and equinox, or vice versa. Each season – winter, spring, summer or fall lasts three months and usually has three full moons, occurring about 30 days apart.
• All full moons are opposite the Sun, as viewed from Earth, rising fully illuminated at local time around sunset and setting around sunrise.
• Generally, Blue Moons occur every two to three years. The last Blue Moon was on October 31, 2020, the night of Halloween.
• When a blue-colored moon happens, the blue color is the result of water droplets in the air, certain types of clouds, or particles thrown into the atmosphere by natural catastrophes, such as volcanic ash and smoke.
• Blue Moons that are blue in color are extremely rare and have nothing to do with the calendar or the Moon’s phases. They don’t have to be full moons either.