The first supermoon of the year illuminated Pakistan’s skies on Sunday, August 19. At 11:30 PM, people witnessed a stunning celestial event. This rare occurrence, visible in cities like Karachi, Quetta, and Lahore, captured the attention of people across the country. The moon appeared 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than usual, making it a truly spectacular sight.
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What Is a Super Blue Moon?
A super blue moon is a unique combination of three lunar events happening simultaneously: a full moon, a blue moon, and a supermoon.
A full moon is a well-known phase in the lunar cycle when the Earth, sun, and moon align, with the Earth positioned between the other two, causing the moon to be fully illuminated as seen from Earth.
A blue moon, despite its name, doesn’t refer to the moon’s color but rather to the frequency of full moons.
There are two types of blue moons: the first occurs when there are two full moons within a single month, which is a rare event due to the moon’s cycle of 29.5 days compared to our typical calendar month of 30-31 days. This rarity leads to a blue moon appearing roughly every two to three years, making up about 3% of all full moons.
The supermoon aspect of the event occurs when the full moon is at its closest point to Earth, known as the perigee, making the moon appear larger and brighter than usual. When these three events—full moon, blue moon, and supermoon—align, it creates the breathtaking phenomenon known as a super blue moon.
A Rare and Stunning Astronomical Event
The super blue moon of this year is particularly special as it marks the third supermoon of the season, an event that happens only once every decade. The brilliant light of the super blue moon added a magical glow to the night, drawing the attention of skywatchers across Pakistan who were mesmerized by this extraordinary display.
The rarity of this event made it a must-see for astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers alike, as it’s a sight that won’t be repeated for several years.
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