Eyes to the skies, Vancouver Island!
This month, we’re in for a treat with a rare celestial event—a super blue moon.
Not only is this moon a ‘Blue Moon’—a term that refers to the rare occurrence of two full moons in a single month, not its colour—but it’s also a supermoon.
A supermoon happens when a full moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth, making it appear bigger and brighter than usual.
The super blue moon will peak on Monday, August 19th, but you’ll have about three days to bask in its glow.
If you miss this one, don’t worry—this is just the first of four consecutive supermoons this year!
According to NASA, the term ‘Blue Moon’ dates back to 1528. Though the exact origin is unclear, some speculate it derives from an older phrase meaning ‘betrayer moon.’
Like many other full moons, this Blue Moon has various names, including the Algonquin tribes’ ‘Sturgeon Moon.’ It’s also known as the Red Moon, the Corn or Green Corn Moon, the Barley Moon, the Herb Moon, the Grain Moon, and the Dog Moon.
This full moon also coincides with the Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan, or Rakhi Purnima, a celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters—a bond of protection, obligation, and care.
So, are you planning to catch a glimpse, Vancouver Island?
