A rare blue micromoon rises this weekend
Summary
This weekend, a rare blue micromoon will appear. It is a full moon that is the second in a month, and it will look smaller and dimmer because the moon is farther from Earth than usual. A bright star named Antares will also be near the moon during this event, creating a special sight in the night sky.Key Facts
- A blue moon happens when there are two full moons in one calendar month, which happens every two to three years.
- The full moon on this weekend will be a micromoon, meaning it is the farthest and smallest full moon of the year.
- The moon will be about 252,360 miles from Earth, making it look about 6% smaller and 10% dimmer than an average full moon.
- A micromoon is the opposite of a supermoon, which occurs when the moon is closer than usual.
- The star Antares, a bright red star 550 light-years away, will appear close to the moon and may be briefly hidden in parts of the southern hemisphere.
- The term "blue moon" does not refer to the moon's color; it simply means a rare second full moon in one month.
- People in Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, eastern Australia, and parts of Antarctica will see Antares vanish briefly as the moon passes in front of it.
- The event will be especially visible and interesting to people south of the equator across the Pacific Ocean.
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