It was the last before 2037. The “super blue moon” reached its zenith on the night of August 30 to 31, to the delight of astronomy fans. They were delighted to be able to observe this exceptional event where the Moon is both at its closest level to the Earth and directly opposite the Sun.
Normally, the Moon evolves at an average distance of 384,400 kilometers from the Earth. This night, she was exceptionally at a distance of about 363,000 kilometers. That’s why she appeared 14% taller than usual.
An appearance every ten or twenty years
During this phenomenon, the star is not really blue. The expression “blue moon”, taken from the English “once in a blue moon” which applies to a rare situation, designates a second full moon in the same month. An event that occurs on average every two and a half years. The more exceptional “super blue moon” only appears every ten or twenty years.
The unusual proximity of the star to the Earth is not without consequences. It can generate higher tides, which could promote flooding, especially on the Florida coast currently hit by Hurricane Idalia.
The last “super blue moon” dates back to December 2009, and the next should not occur before March 2037.