Rare Super Blue Moon dazzles stargazers across the world

A rare blue supermoon – the closest full moon of the year – dazzled stargazers on  Wednesday night as the glowing object illuminated the sky. 

Saturn also joined the stunning celestial spectacle and was visible alongside the gleaming moon in parts of the world where skies were clear. 

It was the second full moon of August, therefore making it a ‘blue’ moon. And it was also unusually close to Earth, earning it the title of a supermoon. The conjunction of both phenomenon at the same time made the event so rare. 

The moon appeared to be bigger and brighter than usual, given its close proximity to Earth – just 222,043 miles or so. 

In comparison, the August 1 supermoon was more than 100 miles farther away.

Across the US, keen stargazers gawked at the giant glowing sphere, which illuminated the sky and was seen lighting up landmarks on city skylines.  

The dazzling supermoon illuminated Lady Liberty in New York, and shone bright on the shores of Lake Michigan on Wednesday evening.

It even showed up in hues of light pink in New Orleans, and its aura lit up the night sky in San Francisco.  

The supermoon will be at its highest point in the sky at 1:23am ET Thursday, according to NASA.

The next blue supermoon isn´t until 2037 – but another regular supermoon is on the horizon at the end of September, the last one of the year.

Astronomy enthusiasts were in for a treat as stunning pictures from across the globe showed the bigger and brighter moon captured by photographers as it appeared over various landmarks.

Supermoons occur when the moon passes through its perigee, or the point that takes it closest to Earth during its elliptical orbit. 

This makes it look about 14 percent bigger compared to when it is at its furthest point, and a touch brighter.

Despite the description, the moon wasn’t actually blue – the term ‘blue Moon’ simply refers to when we see a full moon twice in a month, with a Sturgeon Moon seen on August 1. 

This happens because lunar cycles are a bit shorter at 29.5 days than calendar months, which last 30 or 31 days, so it’s possible for one to happen at the start of a month and the other right at the end. 

Experts have warned that the celestial spectacle, however, could have environmental effects on parts of the US.

Hurricane Idalia – that is currently tormenting Florida and South Carolina – will amplify what were already expected to be higher-than-usual high tides in Georgia and Charleston.

This is because the full supermoon is making its closest orbital pass to Earth – and it exerts a stronger gravitational pull.

As a result, tides are higher – which could therefore exacerbate the storms hitting parts of the south. 

When the moon is full, the sun and the moon are pulling in the same direction, which has the effect of increasing tides above normal ranges, according to Kerry Emanuel, professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The storm surge is often the greatest killer when hurricanes strike.

‘I would say the timing is pretty bad for this one,’ said Brian Haines, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina. 

The ocean water pouring onto land could be up to 15 feet along parts of Florida’s west coast, the National Hurricane Centre projected in its latest briefings yesterday.

Further south, up to seven feet of storm surge is expected in the Tampa Bay area.

Storm surge that can be taller than a person is a concern with any major hurricane.

The tides and the influence of a supermoon can increase that somewhat.

‘There’s a saying that you hide from the wind and run from the water, and hopefully people are heeding that advice,’ said Brian Tang, associate professor of atmospheric science at University at Albany in New York.