A rare blue supermoon – the closest full moon of the year – dazzled stargazers on Wednesday night as the glowing object illuminated the sky.
Saturn also joined the stunning celestial spectacle and was visible alongside the gleaming moon in parts of the world where skies were clear.
It was the second full moon of August, therefore making it a ‘blue’ moon. And it was also unusually close to Earth, earning it the title of a supermoon. The conjunction of both phenomenon at the same time made the event so rare.
The moon appeared to be bigger and brighter than usual, given its close proximity to Earth – just 222,043 miles or so.
In comparison, the August 1 supermoon was more than 100 miles farther away.
Across the US, keen stargazers gawked at the giant glowing sphere, which illuminated the sky and was seen lighting up landmarks on city skylines.
NEW YORK: The supermoon rises over the Statue of Liberty. It was the second full moon of August, therefore making it a blue moon. And it was also unusually close to Earth, making it a supermoon
SAN DIEGO: A super moon, known as the Blue Moon, rises above the city of San Diego, California
NEW ORLEANS: A Blue Supermoon rises behind the Crescent City Connection in New Orleans
CHICAGO: The super blue moon is not expected to appear again until 2037
The dazzling supermoon illuminated Lady Liberty in New York, and shone bright on the shores of Lake Michigan on Wednesday evening.
It even showed up in hues of light pink in New Orleans, and it’s aura lit up the night sky in San Francisco.
The supermoon will be at its highest point in the sky at 1:23am ET Thursday, according to NASA.
The next blue supermoon isn´t until 2037 – but another regular supermoon is on the horizon at the end of September, the last one of the year.
Astronomy enthusiasts were in for a treat as stunning pictures from across the globe showed the bigger and brighter moon captured by photographers as it appeared over various landmarks.
Supermoons occur when the moon passes through its perigee, or the point that takes it closest to Earth during its elliptical orbit.
This makes it look about 14 percent bigger compared to when it is at its furthest point, and a touch brighter.
SAN FRANCISCO: The rare blue supermoon rises between the Salesforce Tower and the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco
MEXICO: A woman takes a picture as a super moon, known as the Blue Moon, rises above Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
CHICAGO: The blue supermoon rises behind Navy Pier Auditorium, Wednesday, August 30, 2023, in Chicago
CANADA: The August Super Blue Moon sets behind the CN tower in Toronto
MONGOLIA: The supermoon rises near the equestrian statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar on Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
GREECE: A full moon known as the ‘Blue Moon’ rises behind the Temple of Poseidon, in Cape Sounion, near Athens
Despite the description, the moon wasn’t actually blue – the term ‘blue Moon’ simply refers to when we see a full moon twice in a month, with a Sturgeon Moon seen on August 1.
This happens because lunar cycles are a bit shorter at 29.5 days than calendar months, which last 30 or 31 days, so it’s possible for one to happen at the start of a month and the other right at the end.
Experts have warned that the celestial spectacle, however, could have environmental effects on parts of the US.
CUBA: Despite being a spectacle, the blue supermoon could have environmental effects on parts of the US
LAKE MICHIGAN: The Blue Supermoon rises over Lake Michigan
LOS ANGELES: A cyclist walks with a bike as the blue moon rises behind a mountain in Los Angeles
CHICAGO: People gather along North Avenue Beach as a super blue moon rises on August 30, 2023 in Chicago
Hurricane Idalia – that is currently tormenting Florida and South Carolina – will amplify what were already expected to be higher-than-usual high tides in Georgia and Charleston.
This is because the full supermoon is making its closest orbital pass to Earth – and it exerts a stronger gravitational pull.
As a result, tides are higher – which could therefore exacerbate the storms hitting parts of the south.
When the moon is full, the sun and the moon are pulling in the same direction, which has the effect of increasing tides above normal ranges, according to Kerry Emanuel, professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The storm surge is often the greatest killer when hurricanes strike.
‘I would say the timing is pretty bad for this one,’ said Brian Haines, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina.
PORTUGAL: The biggest and brightest full moon of the year, is seen over Porto, Portugal
ISRAEL: Super Blue Moon rises above ancient fortress in Migdal Tsedek National Park near Rosh Haayin
The ocean water pouring onto land could be up to 15 feet (4.6 metres) along parts of Florida’s west coast, the National Hurricane Centre projected in its latest briefings yesterday.
Further south, up to seven feet (2.1 metres) of storm surge is expected in the Tampa Bay area.
Storm surge that can be taller than a person is a concern with any major hurricane.
The tides and the influence of a supermoon can increase that somewhat.
‘There’s a saying that you hide from the wind and run from the water, and hopefully people are heeding that advice,’ said Brian Tang, associate professor of atmospheric science at University at Albany in New York.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk