Rare Super Blue Moon to Illuminate the Bay Area

Tonight, sky gazers in the Bay Area will have the chance to witness the first of two supermoons this month. This dazzling celestial event occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, resulting in a larger and brighter appearance. The second supermoon, scheduled for August 30th, will also be a “blue moon,” which occurs when two full moons appear in the same month.

Jon Rees, a support astronomer for Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, stated that it is unusual for these two phenomena to coincide. Blue moons themselves are relatively rare, hence the popular saying “once in a blue moon.” The last time two supermoons occurred in a month was back in 2018. According to Kat Troche, a project coordinator and night sky network administrator for the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the next “super blue moon” won’t happen until 2032.

The scientific term for a supermoon is “lunar perigee syzygy.” It takes place when the moon is near perigee, or its closest distance from Earth, which is approximately 224,000 miles away. Ben Burress, a staff astronomer at Chabot Space & Science Center, explained that the moon’s orbit is elliptical, leading to variations in its distance from our planet. At perigee, a supermoon appears about 15% larger and 30% brighter than a full moon at its farthest point from Earth.

However, Rees cautioned that supermoons are often overhyped. They occur three or four times a year due to the natural motions of the moon and Earth. Nonetheless, supermoons captivate the public’s imagination because they can give rise to king tides when the gravitational pulls of the sun and moon align closely.

No special equipment is required to observe the supermoon; all that is needed is to step outside and gaze at the radiant celestial object. Moonrise will occur at 8:54 p.m. tonight and at 7:57 p.m. on August 30th in the Bay Area. Burress noted that the full moon rises around sunset and remains visible throughout the night, setting at dawn the following day.

So, mark your calendars and be sure to take a moment to marvel at the beauty and grandeur of this rare super blue moon.