A rare supermoon will be visible across India on August 19, 2024. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth while it is full, hence making it look larger and brighter than the usual days.
Due to its close proximity to the earth, a supermoon appears up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual.
The term “supermoon” was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 as either a new or full Moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth.
Sturgeon Moon
The August full moon is often called the “Sturgeon Moon” by Native American tribes in the northeastern United States, named after the large fish that was commonly caught during this time.
Blue Moon
The year 2024 marks a full moon August, and is also known as a ‘Blue Moon’. A blue moon is a term used for the third full moon in a season that contains four full moons.
Despite the name, however, a ‘blue moon’ does not look blue in colour.
