ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to witness a rare super blue moon around 11:30 p.m. tonight, Monday, the country’s national space agency said, as skywatchers around the globe are treated to the dazzling display.
The term super moon refers to a full moon that occurs when the moon is at its closest point (perigee) to Earth in its elliptical orbit. As a result, the moon appears up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than when it is at its farthest point (apogee). Super moons can create stunning visuals, making them a favorite for photographers and enthusiasts alike.
A blue moon is used to describe an additional full moon that appears in a subdivision of a year. Typically, there is one full moon per month, leading to 12 full moons in a year. However, occasionally, a month will have two full moons — the second one is called a “blue moon.” Therefore, the super blue moon occurs when a full moon falls into the category of a Blue Moon while also being a super moon.
On Monday, the world will see a second full moon of the month, making it a blue moon. On top of that, it will happen close to perigee, thus qualifying it as a super moon, as well. The unique timing of this astronomical event makes it particularly special. This will be the first supermoon of 2024, with the next ones occurring on September 18, October 17 and November 15.
“The celestial event is a full moon that qualifies as both a ‘supermoon’ and a ‘blue moon’ will shine over Pakistan,” SUPARCO said in a statement on Monday. “This unique occurrence, known as a ‘super blue moon’, takes place when the lunar cycles of supermoons and blue moons align perfectly on a calendar date.”
Explaining the characteristics of the blue moon, the space agency said the term “blue” described the times the Earth witnessed multiple full moons during a given period. A seasonal blue moon occurred when four full moons took place within a single season, it said.
“Seasonal blue moons are rare enough. The next one won’t happen until May 2027,” it said.
The space agency quoted NASA as saying the next super blue moon would not occur until January 2037, making tonight’s event a must-watch for skywatchers.
“This celestial event offers a rare and spectacular opportunity to witness the moon in a way that few will experience again for many years to come,” SUPARCO concluded.
The full moon’s peak will occur on Monday afternoon, according to NASA, at 2:26 p.m. Eastern Time Zone and 11:26 a.m. Pacific Time Zone. It will appear for three days, from Sunday morning until early Wednesday morning. Though the moon will be visible to the naked eye, telescope and binocular viewers will be able to see even more detail on the lunar surface than usual.
