(NEXSTAR) — This year has brought a spectacular lineup of celestial shows for skywatchers. There was the total solar eclipse and the return of the devil comet in April, multiple nights of colorful northern lights, Mars and Jupiter “getting chummy,” and a soon-to-appear rare explosion.
On Monday, we’ll have the chance at another unique night sky sighting: a rare blue supermoon.
According to NASA, a moon is considered a supermoon when it is in its new or full phase, and within 90% of its closest approach to Earth. But, since new moons aren’t as easy to see as a full moon, we tend to pay more attention to the full moon version.
It’s hard not to, considering they’re the biggest and brightest of the year. The moon will be at its perigee, or closest point to Earth during orbit, with an average distance of about 226,000 miles. At its farthest distance, or apogee, it will be 253,000 miles from Earth.
Sadly, unlike blue moon ice cream, this full moon won’t be blue.
In this case, “blue” refers to it being the third full moon in a season of four full moons. It can also be used to describe the second full moon in the same month. This is August’s only full moon this year.
NASA explains it isn’t certain why we call it a blue moon, but says it could be because it “betrayed” those trying to set the dates for Lent and Easter (which are both affected by the moon schedule). It could also be connected to a time in which atmosphere dust gave the moon a blue hue.
Don’t give up on it just yet though. The blue supermoon will still be dazzling. The slideshow below contains photos from last year’s blue supermoon.
If you miss the supermoon next week, have no fear: this is the first of four consecutive supermoons this year, NASA explains.
