Supermoons And A Blue Moon Are Included In The Lunar Calendar For The Upcoming Year

Jan 13, 2020 by apost team

Full moons are a sight to behold and deserve some of our time when they appear each month. This year though, there is going to be an extra full moon happening in the year, for a total of thirteen. Additionally, there will be 13 full moons, two supermoons, and one blue moon that appear by the end of the year.

So, what do all these moon names and occurrences mean? If you are less than familiar with all the names and reasons for the names of our monthly moons, this quick guide will help you keep it all straight this year so you can just enjoy the view.

Full moons happen once every month, like clockwork, but they are on different days because it takes 29 1/2 days for the Moon to pass through all its phases. So, because of the number of days in a year, every two and a half years we get a second full moon in a single month.

apost.com

A full moon is just that, full without any areas in the dark. Over time, different cultures have given each full moon a different name according to seasonal occurrences. Some of the names for each moon have entered popular culture over the ages and are now commonly referred to by these names. Some of the more popular full moon names include the Harvest Moon, the Pink Moon, the Strawberry Moon, and the Hunter's Moon, according to The Telegraph.

During the course of the year we often experience supermoons, and as mentioned this year we will get to see 2 supermoons. Both March and April's full moons will be supermoons, making them back to back which is also pretty unique. We call supermoons by this name because they can sometimes appear to be larger to us here on Earth. The moon isn't any larger, but rather the moon is slightly closer to the Earth that it is during other months.

That leaves the Blue Moon that we are going to get to see this year, during the month of October. Blue Moons are named not for their color, but for their rarity. A blue moon is simply when we get two full moons in a single calendar month. The previous moon will have gone through all the phases in exactly the same amount of time as every other moon in the year, but because of the number of days it takes for a full phase and the number of days in the year and month, we get two, says The Telegraph.

Superstitious and fans of all things spooky will delight in knowing that this year's Blue Moon will take place on Halloween night. This rare event won't happen again for almost another twenty years, so make sure to take note so you don't miss this super rare moon event, reports The Old Farmer's Almanac.

If you are interested in astronomy or just love checking out the moon, there is so much to see and pay attention to this year. While other years have given us more supermoons, this year is filled with observing possibilities and rare events that many will find exciting.

The best part is, you don't need any special equipment or tons of knowledge to observe the Moon or get to know more about its phases and features. Start by observing each full moon that occurs every month and soon you will be familiar with both the names and meanings behind each of those designated names, and be sure to tell your friends about these celestial events.