SUPERMOON

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: India will witness a rare supermoon. A supermoon appears larger and brighter due to its close proximity to Earth.

EXPLANATION:

According to reports, the moon will reach its peak brightness and size at 11:56 pm IST on 20^th August 2024.
Due to its close proximity to the earth, a supermoon will appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual.

Blue moon 2024

The year 2024 marks a full moon August, and is also known as a ‘Blue Moon’.
A blue moon is a term used for the third full moon in a season that contains four full moons.
Despite the name, however, a ‘blue moon’ does not look blue in colour.
August’s super moon is the first of four consecutive supermoons expected in 2024, thus providing further opportunities to witness the full moon.
The next full Moon is on September 17.
The first time the use of the term “Blue Moon” recorded in English was in 1528.

Supermoon

A supermoon occurs when a full moon is at its closest point to the earth, thus making it appear brighter and bigger.
The term “supermoon” was first coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, and has since been used widely. It gained popularity over the years.
Although an astronomical event, the supermoon holds cultural significance across various societies.
The August full moon is often called the “Sturgeon Moon” by Native American tribes in the northeastern United States, named after the large fish that was commonly caught during this time.
In Chinese culture, it aligns with the mid-autumn festival, which is marked by family reunions.