What is a blue micromoon and when is the best time to see it this weekend?
A blue micromoon is a rare spectacle, though it's not as blue or as micro as you might imagine
TL;DR
- A blue moon is typically defined as the second full moon in a single calendar month.
- A seasonal blue moon is the third full moon in an astronomical season that has four full moons.
- A micromoon occurs when a full moon happens near the farthest point of its elliptical orbit from Earth.
- A blue micromoon is a rare combination, occurring approximately once every couple of decades.
- The moon does not actually appear blue during a blue micromoon, unless atmospheric conditions like forest fires or volcanic eruptions cause a scattering effect.
- For optimal viewing, catch the moon on the night before or the night after the exact full moon time, as it will appear full to the naked eye.
- The phrase 'once in a blue moon' might be linked to the rarer blue tint caused by atmospheric particles rather than the frequency of blue moons.