This Blue Supermoon is considered the closest the Moon will be to Earth this year.
On the night of August 30, USA time (early morning August 31, Vietnam time), residents around the world witnessed the largest and brightest Blue Supermoon of the year. This is the second of three supermoons occurring in 2023, and it is also the moment when the Moon reaches its closest point to Earth on its orbit, approximately 357,181 km away. Due to this distance, the Moon appears larger and brighter compared to a typical full moon.
According to NASA, the term “Blue Moon” does not relate to the color of the Moon, but refers to the phenomenon of a full moon occurring twice in the month of August. The previous full moon occurred on August 1 and was also considered a supermoon as the Moon was positioned opposite Earth from the Sun and fully illuminated.
Blue Supermoon over Toronto, Canada
According to Business Insider, the name “Blue Moon” is linked to an event in 1883. At that time, on the day of the supermoon, a deadly volcanic eruption on Krakatoa Island (Indonesia) killed 36,000 people. The sulfur dioxide compounds and ash filled the air, causing the Moon to appear blue because the smoke particles from the volcano blocked red light while allowing other colors to pass through.
Astronomically, Blue Moons occur relatively frequently, typically every 2-3 years. However, according to NASA, the next opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts to witness this phenomenon will be in 2037.
The Moon in the sky over St Leonards, Sydney, Australia
The Moon behind the Royal Liver Building and the Liver Bird statue in Liverpool, England
The Supermoon behind the medieval Chlemoutsi Castle in Kyllini, Peloponnese, Greece.
The nearly full Moon shining in the sky over Hyderabad, India
The full Moon rising next to a spotlight from a building in Beirut, Lebanon
The Supermoon behind the ancient Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, approximately 70 km south of Athens, Greece
The Blue Supermoon at the T20 cricket match between England and New Zealand at Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street, England
The Supermoon over Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The Moon rising over Galata Tower, Istanbul, Turkey
Photographers capturing the rare astronomical event at the famous Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey
