Stargazers will be treated to a rare celestial event on Monday night: the rise of a blue moon. But it won’t be your typical blue moon.
The blue moon that most people have heard of occurs when there are two full moons in a calendar month, a phenomenon that occurs once every two or three years. When this happens, the second of the month is considered a blue moon.
Monday night’s event falls into a different category, namely the seasonal blue moon.
 |
|
A blue moon rises over Michmoret, Israel, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) |
Each season typically has three full moons, but every few years a season will have four, with the third in the series being called a Blue Moon. This summer is one of those rare occasions, and it won’t happen again until May 20, 2027.
After Monday, the fourth and final full moon of the season rises on September 17, just five nights before the end of astronomical summer.
Despite what its nickname suggests, Monday’s Blue Moon won’t take on any strange colors and will resemble many other full moons throughout the year.
The Moon rises in the east shortly after sunset and moves slowly across the southern sky throughout the night, before setting in the west around sunrise.
Got the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+
The August full moon has many more nicknames, including the Sturgeon Moon, the Black Cherry Moon, the Corn Moon, and the Mountain Shadow Moon.
Want next-level safety, without ads? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts whenever you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Notifications™ are powered by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
