Rare 'blue supermoon' to rise Wednesday night
The biggest and brightest full moon of 2023 will rise this week, and another familiar celestial object will appear side-by-side with the moon.
A supermoon rises over the West End Tower at Vanderbilt University, Aug. 1, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Stargazers are in for a double treat on Wednesday night, Aug. 30: a rare blue supermoon with Saturn peeking from behind. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
The last full moon of summer will be the best of the entire season as stargazers witness a rare celestial sight -- one that hasn't been seen in nearly three years.
A blue moon will appear Wednesday night with moonlight so bright that it may cast shadows.
Despite its nickname, the moon will not emit a blue glow. Instead, the nickname means that it is the second full moon in a calendar month. Most recently, a blue moon occurred on Oct. 31, 2020, and another one will not rise until May 31, 2026.
The supermoon rises behind a hill at Pera Chorio Nisou, outskirts of Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Wednesday night's full moon will also be a supermoon -- the biggest and brightest of the entire year, according to EarthSky.
Every full moon this summer is a supermoon, appearing slightly bigger and brighter than a normal full moon. However, this week's will be even bigger and brighter than the rest -- although the difference will be nearly imperceivable to the human eye.
The nicknames will create the viral sensation of "blue supermoon."
After this week, the next full moon will not rise until Sept. 29, six days after the autumnal equinox ushers in the start of astronomical fall.
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Onlookers may also spot Saturn hanging next to the supermoon throughout the night. The duo will rise in the eastern sky after sunset and will slowly traverse the southern sky throughout the night before setting in the west around daybreak.
The Super Blue Moon will rise on the night of Aug. 30. It is the brightest and largest full moon of 2023. It will also raise concerns for high tides with Hurricane Idalia approaching Florida.
The supermoon could amplify the impacts of Hurricane Idalia
The moon's gravitational pull is responsible for the tides on Earth, and during a supermoon when it is closer to the planet, it can have a slightly stronger influence.
As Hurricane Idalia hits Florida, the unusually high tides could exacerbate the storm surge, resulting in more flooding and higher water levels along the coast. Click here for the latest on Idalia.
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