Mond Heute: The Spectacular Super Blue Moon Over Switzerland

Mond Heute: Exploring the Super Blue Moon Phenomenon

In the night from Monday to Tuesday, the Super Blue Moon radiated brightly and substantially over the Swiss night sky. This is the first of four consecutive supermoons this year, as reported by NASA. What exactly is a seasonal Blue Moon? A seasonal Blue Moon is defined as the third full moon within an astronomical season containing four full moons. Typically, each season has three months and three full moons, with the occasional fourth one.

Understanding the Blue Moon

• Typically, there are twelve full moons in an astronomical year, as a lunar cycle lasts approximately one month.
• The exact duration of a lunar cycle is 29.5 days, resulting in 354 days to complete twelve lunar cycles.
• Therefore, an extra full moon occurs every 2.5 to three years during a season, making seasonal Blue Moons quite rare.

Is the moon actually blue? Unfortunately, no; the Blue Moon does not appear blue. It typically looks pale gray or white in the sky. Under certain atmospheric conditions, the moon may exhibit a bluish tint, a phenomenon that can occur, for instance, after significant volcanic eruptions.

The Origins of the Name

The term Blue Moon in English dates back to 1528, possibly stemming from an old English term meaning 'betrayer moon,' as it led to errors in the scheduling of fasting and Easter dates.

Next Seasonal Blue Moon

Mark your calendars! The next seasonal Blue Moon will appear on May 20, 2027, at 12:59 CEST (10:59 GMT), provided the sky is clear.