According to the Gregorian calendar, there will be two supermoons in August. As a result, the sequence of four consecutive supermoons will include the Super Thunder Moon on July 2 (US time), the Red Moon on August 1 (US time), the Blue Moon on August 30 (US time), and the Harvest Moon on September 29 (US time), as reported by the EarthSky astronomy tracker.
Calculations by astronomer Fred Espenak, a former expert at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, show that these four full moons will appear at a distance ranging from 357,344 to 361,934 kilometers, much closer than the average distance, resulting in a larger appearance, hence the term “supermoon.”
Supermoon is not an official term and was first defined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, referring to either a new or full moon occurring closest to Earth on its orbit. EarthSky utilizes the newer standards set by Dr. Espenak.
Additionally, due to the recent occurrence of the Summer Solstice (June 21), these moons are expected to have a fiery orange color.
Western countries often refer to the full moon based on events or characteristics associated with that particular month. The August moon is commonly called the Sturgeon Moon or Red Moon due to its prominent reddish-orange color during the summer season.
However, August will also witness a rare phenomenon of two full moons occurring in the same Gregorian month. Therefore, the supermoon on August 30 (US time), while still displaying shades of orange, will be referred to as the “Blue Moon,” indicating the second full moon within the month.
According to NASA, the phenomenon of the Moon appearing orange is due to the low-hanging Moon during the harvest season, which causes us to view the satellite through a thicker layer of Earth’s atmosphere that scatters light.
The orange color will be more pronounced if, during that time, there are wildfires releasing smoke and haze across the planet. This is what leads to the popular legend of the “orange harvest moon” in many countries. However, in reality, the Moon still emits its usual silver-white light, and the orange color is a result of us seeing it through an atmospheric lens.
Additionally, the low-hanging Moon, which is lowest at sunset, also creates an illusion that makes it appear larger than usual, known as the “Moon illusion.” This illusion, combined with the promise of a supermoon, sets the stage for a spectacular sight—a massive orange-hued supermoon—that you should look forward to during sunset on July 3.