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Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News
Paul Huttner

Two supermoons, including a rare blue supermoon, ahead in August

A blue supermoon will occur on Aug. 30

A supermoon on Oct. 1, 2020
A supermoon on October 1, 2020.
NASA

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This August brings a rare lunar feat.

First we’ll get two full moons in August. By definition, the second full moon in the same month is called a blue moon. Blue moons on average occur about every 2.7 years.

Secondly, both full moons this month are considered supermoons. Supermoons are defined by the three or four full moons each year that are closest to Earth (perigee) in their orbital path. The moon’s distance from Earth ranges between about 226,000 and 253,000 miles during its yearly orbit.

Supermoons can appear 14 percent larger and up to 30 percent brighter than apogee (farthest away) moons!

Here are some quick facts about supermoons from NASA:

A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to Earth at the same time the Moon is full. So what's so special about a supermoon? For the interested observer, there's plenty to see and learn.

  • The Moon orbits Earth in an ellipse, an oval that brings it closer to and farther from Earth as it goes around.

  • The farthest point in this ellipse is called the apogee and is about 253,000 miles from Earth on average.

  • Its closest point is the perigee, which is an average distance of about 226,000 miles from Earth.

  • When a full moon appears at perigee it is slightly brighter and larger than a regular full moon – and that's where we get a "supermoon.