Witness an Interesting Astronomical Event Today: Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory

On August 19, 2024, we will witness an intriguing astronomical event—a Super Blue Moon. This was reported by the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory.

“This phenomenon combines two unique celestial events—a supermoon and a blue moon, which will peak at 22:25 Yerevan time. What is a SUPERMOON?

A supermoon occurs when the full moon phase coincides with the Moon's position at its closest point to Earth (perigee). The Moon's orbit around the Earth is not a perfect circle but elliptical, resulting in its distance from Earth varying throughout the month and year. The average distance is about 382,900 kilometers (238,000 miles).

It is also important to note that the term 'Supermoon' is not an official astronomical term. It was first suggested by astronomer Richard Nolle in 1979.

What is a Blue Moon? Despite the name, the moon will not actually appear blue. A Blue Moon primarily refers to the occurrence of two full moons within a single calendar month,” the Observatory reported.