The upcoming full Moon on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 2:26 PM EDT, will be a remarkable celestial event. This Moon is known by many names, including the Sturgeon Moon, Red Moon, Corn Moon, Green Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Herb Moon, Grain Moon, and Dog Moon. It also coincides with Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi Purnima) and Tu B'Av. In regions from Nepal Standard Time eastward across Asia, Australia, and to the International Date Line, this will occur on Tuesday morning. The Moon will appear full for three days, from Sunday morning until early Wednesday morning.
This full Moon will be a supermoon, a term coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 to describe either a new or full Moon occurring when the Moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth. While new supermoons are not visible, full supermoons, the largest and brightest full Moons of the year, have captivated public interest. This will be the first of four consecutive supermoons in 2024, with the full Moons in September and October nearly tied for the closest of the year.
Although it won’t appear blue in color, this Moon will be a Blue Moon because it is the third full Moon in a season that has four full Moons. The term "Blue Moon" has been in use since 1528. It may originate from an old English phrase meaning "betrayer Moon," as it could cause confusion in determining the dates for Lent and Easter, or it might refer to the rare occurrences when atmospheric conditions cause the Moon to appear blue. Since the 1940s, the term has also been used to describe the second full Moon in a calendar month with two full Moons.
