We are told that rare things happen “once in a blue moon”. Over the next three days, there will indeed be a blue moon.
According to NASA, the moon event this week is also known as a Supermoon, Sturgeon Moon, Red Moon, Corn Moon and Dog Moon. Among others.
The blue moon started to be visible early this morning across Australia and Asia and will last until around Thursday.
NASA says the term “supermoon” was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 as either a new or a full Moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90 percent of its closest approach to Earth.
“Since we don’t really see new Moons, what has caught the public’s attention are full supermoons as they are the biggest and brightest full Moons of the year.” NASA said.
“This will be the first of four consecutive supermoons this year (with the full Moons in September and October virtually tied for the closest of the year).”
The moon is also a blue moon (even though it won’t look blue) because it is the “third full Moon in a season with four full Moons”.
“The first recorded use of ‘Blue Moon’ in English dates from 1528,” NASA said in an article on its website.
“Speculations on the origin of the term include an old English phrase that means “betrayer Moon” (because it led to mistakes in setting the dates for Lent and Easter). Or it may be a comparison to rare events such as when dust in the atmosphere makes the Moon actually appear blue.”
More details are on the NASA website.
