In 2024, there will be four supermoons, which occur when a full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth. The dates and details of these supermoons are as follows:
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Sturgeon Moon
- Date and Time: August 19, 2024, at 2:26 PM ET (1826 GMT)
- Distance from Earth: 224,917 miles (361,970 km)
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Harvest Moon
- Date and Time: September 17, 2024, at 10:34 PM ET (0234 GMT on September 18)
- Distance from Earth: 222,131 miles (357,486 km)
- Notably, this supermoon will also feature a partial lunar eclipse.
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Hunter's Moon
- Date and Time: October 17, 2024, at 7:26 AM ET (1126 GMT)
- Distance from Earth: 222,055 miles (357,364 km)
- This will be the closest supermoon of the year.
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Beaver Moon
- Date and Time: November 15, 2024, at 4:29 PM ET (2129 GMT)
- Distance from Earth: 224,853 miles (361,867 km)
These supermoons are important not only for their brightness and size but also for their cultural associations with seasonal changes and traditional names given by various cultures.
The Significance of the Blue Moon in August 2024
The Blue Moon on August 19, 2024, is a rare and significant celestial event for several reasons:
Supermoon
This full moon will be a supermoon, meaning it occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. Supermoons appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a regular full moon.
Third Full Moon of Summer
Since the Blue Moon means the fourth of four full moons in a season – and the season of summer is determined as the period from June Solstice to September Equinox – As the third of four full moons in the summer season (defined as the period between the June solstice and September equinox), this full moon is designated a "Blue Moon". Seasonal blue moons are relatively uncommon, occurring only once every 2-3 years.
Hindu Festival Raksha Bandhan
Blue Supermoon on the eighth night of the Hindu month, Shravana, is going to take place on Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi Purnima, on August 19, 2024. This hydro is especially meant to reveal the brother-sister symbiosis, where sisters put a specially made band called a rakhi around the brothers’ wrists.
First of Four Consecutive Supermoons in 2024
This supermoon marks the start of four successive supermoons in the year 2024, the other full moons in September, October, and November will also appear larger and brighter as compared to others6. The biggest and the closest supermoon of the year will be on October 17.
As a result of this, besides the intensity of light, tides rise more than average and are common in the coastal area. However, the effect is not extreme and it can hardly lead to flooding, especially along the river banks.
The Blue Supermoon the event which will occur on the 19th of August, 2024 is in fact among the most persuasive phenomena noticeable in the sky which also gives a cultural statement to the Hindus celebrating Raksha Bandhan festival. It is just the beginning of a series of Supermoons in the coming year. 2024 is going to see more Supermoons.
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