Rare Blue Moon Supermoon To Brighten Night Sky Globally Tomorrow

The Jeddah Astronomy Society (JAS) has announced that the first "supermoon" of 2024 will be visible globally tomorrow. This phenomenon occurs when the full moon is closer to Earth than usual, making it appear larger and brighter.

Majed Abu Zahra, Director of JAS, explained that this "supermoon," also known as a "seasonal blue moon," happens approximately every 2.5 years. It is the third full moon out of four in the current season, which spans from the summer solstice to the autumn equinox. Despite its name, the moon will not appear blue but will look like a regular full moon.

The term "supermoon" refers to a full or new moon occurring when the moon is within 90% of its closest distance to Earth. In this instance, the distance between the centers of the moon and Earth will be 361,969 kilometers, according to Abu Zahra.

The supermoon will rise in the southeast after sunset and may initially appear orange due to atmospheric dust and particles scattering reflected sunlight. As it ascends higher in the sky, it will take on its usual silvery-white appearance and remain visible all night until sunrise on Tuesday.

Although the supermoon may seem larger and brighter than an average full moon, Abu Zahra noted that most people might not notice a significant difference because of potential obstructions like clouds or street lights. He added that judging its apparent size can be difficult when it is high in the sky.

Minimal Impact on Earth

The supermoon will have minimal effects on our planet. It will cause slightly higher and lower tides due to its gravitational pull, which is a normal occurrence during full moons each month. This extra pull from the supermoon will not lead to unusual weather or geological activity.

This period is ideal for observing the brightly lit lunar surface. The landscape appears flattened with short shadows as the sun fully illuminates the moon's face.

Abu Zahra emphasized that while this event is visually striking, it does not bring any significant changes or disruptions to Earth’s natural processes.

With inputs from SPA