Blue Moon: For Your Zodiac Sign What Does The Second Full Moon In August 2023 Mean?
Second Full Moon In August 2023 Mean?
Blue Moon: For Your Zodiac Sign What Does The Second Full Moon In August 2023 Mean?
We have a second full moon in August 2023 – the so-called “Blue Moon”- also classified as a supermoon.
This rare phenomenon is an exciting time for many astronomers and stargazers. You will find out below what the blue moon means and to what extent it influences us humans.
How is a full moon formed?
On August 31, 2023, the moon reaches its maximum brightness and is known as the full moon in astronomy.
During the full moon, the sun and moon are in opposite directions as viewed from Earth.
The average duration of a moon phase is about 29 days, 12 hours, and 43 minutes, but it can vary slightly. Incidentally, the word “month” is derived from this period of time.
During the full moon, the entire terrestrial side of the moon is illuminated by the sun, making this phase of the moon particularly visible.
When the Sun and Moon are remarkably close together in their distance from Earth, the full Moon appears about 22 percent brighter than at its maximum separation.
This is what makes the full moon so bright. The counterpart to the full moon is the new moon when the moon is not visible to us.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is precisely in the plane of the earth’s orbit at the time of the full moon and the world thus shadows the sunlight from the moon.
The time of the full moon is roughly the same around the world every month, but of course, the different time zones have to be taken into account.
When there are two full moons in a calendar month, the second is called the “blue moon.” The full moon peaks around midnight.
what is a blue moon?
The term “blue moon” does not refer to the actual color of the moon but to its rarity. A full moon usually appears every 29 days, while most months have 30 or 31 days. Therefore, it can occasionally happen that there are two full moons in a single month.
Blue moons are extraordinary events that usually happen about every two and a half years.
The last “Blue Moon” was seen on August 22, 2021. The upcoming second full moon of August 2023 is not only significant as the second full moon of the month, but is also classed as a “supermoon.”
This particular blue moon will be the closest full moon to Earth all year, adding to the astronomy allure.
Overall, this August promises to be an exciting time for astronomers and stargazers.
For anyone wanting to watch these lunar events, it’s best to find a spot away from urban lights for the best view.
Using a telescope or a good pair of binoculars can further enhance the experience.
Since Supermoons rise at sunset, finding a spot where the horizon is clearly visible helps to get the best view.
How often does a blue moon occur?
Typically, blue moons only occur about once every two to three years. In 2018, unusually, we had two blue moons in a year and only two months apart – and one of them was a lunar eclipse! The next time we get two blue moons in a year will be in 2037.
What color is a blue moon?
Blue moons are not blue! Blue moons are the same color as all other full moons, except for two rare cases.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon can turn blood red and is illuminated only by light channeled through its atmosphere around Earth onto the moon’s surface.
Because lunar eclipses only occur on full moons, and blue moons are a type of full moon, a blue moon is very rarely red!
On very rare occasions the moon can appear blue, but in this case, it’s a color added to the moon when viewed through a haze of dust particles in our atmosphere, perhaps from a recent volcanic eruption.
For example, in 1883, after the Krakatoa volcano erupted, the moon appeared bluish in the sky because of dust in the air.
In such a case, however, the moon will always appear gray from space. In truth, the moon’s surface has patches of gray, light blue, brown, and yellow, making it appear gray overall.
By the way, there is also a black moon: the term “Black Moon”, which means “Schwarzer Mond” in German, is used when a second new moon appears within the same calendar month.
The Effect of the Full Moon on Humans and Animals
Observing the full moon and its phases has always piqued people’s curiosity and interest. It is fascinating to see how the moon changes and shows us different faces depending on how the sunlight falls on its surface.
The full moon has cultural and spiritual significance for many societies around the world, and its appearance has historically influenced various aspects of human life, from agriculture and fishing to traditional customs.
The phenomenon of the full moon remains a wondrous and mystical event that continues to fascinate us in modern times.
There are common claims that the full moon affects people and animals and that many people have trouble sleeping during the full moon, for example.
It is often avoided to perform surgeries during the full moon as the healing process is considered less favorable. However, there are also studies that do not confirm any connection or corresponding effects of the full moon.
In agriculture and forestry, however, attention is often paid to the phases of the moon, and for some animal species, it has been shown that their mating behavior is closely linked to the phases of the moon.
