ar- العربية To all the photographers out there, it’s time to showcase your talent. The Jeddah Astronomy Society has announced that the first supermoon of 2024 will take place on Monday, visible around the world, including in the Kingdom. Not only is it a supermoon, but it’s a rare blue supermoon.
Your Instagram feed is about to get a lot more visually stunning.
A supermoon occurs when a full moon appears larger and brighter than usual because it is closer to Earth in its orbit. The moon travels around Earth in an elliptical (oval-shaped) path, meaning there are times when it is closer to us (called perigee) and times when it is farther away (called apogee). When a full moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth, it is called a supermoon. During a supermoon, the moon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a typical full moon.
A “blue moon” is an uncommon lunar event that refers to two different phenomena. The first is when two full moons occur within a single calendar month, with the second full moon being called a “blue moon.” This is rare because a full moon typically happens every 29.5 days. The second definition is a seasonal blue moon, which is the third full moon in a season that has four full moons instead of the usual three. Despite its name, a blue moon doesn’t actually appear blue; the term has come to symbolize something rare, hence the phrase “once in a blue moon.”
A blue supermoon is a rare and unique lunar event that combines two phenomena: a blue moon and a supermoon.
Majed Abu Zahra, head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society, noted that while the supermoon may seem impressive, people might not notice a significant difference due to potential visibility issues caused by clouds or artificial lights.
Nonetheless, a supermoon is a rare and stunning sight. Don’t miss it!