Rare Blue Moon & First “Supermoon” of 2024
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“Supermoon” Night Over San Francisco 2024
Thanks to an optical illusion in the sky, the moon will appear bigger and brighter than normal in the San Francisco Bay Area in the night, during what astronomers call a “supermoon.”
Because the sun is about 50,000 miles closer to the earth than at its furthest point – and it’s a full or new moon – the moon will appear larger and brighter than most full moons. To be considered a supermoon, it has to be within 224,851 miles (361,863 kilometers) of our planet, as measured from the centers of the moon and Earth.
The best time to observe the supermoon is when the moon is near the horizon during either moonrise or moonset, thanks to having objects in the foreground (like buildings or trees) to provide reference points for estimating the moon’s size.
2024 Supermoons & Rare Full Moons
- August 19 – “Blue” Supermoon
- September 17 – Super Harvest Moon plus a partial lunar eclipse
- October 17 – Super Hunter’s Moon and the closest full supermoon for 2024
- November 15 – Full Moon, Supermoon
Read more about 2024’s Supermoons at Earthsky
Source: EarthSky
The first “supermoon” of the year will occur on August 19, 2024. August’s full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon.
This “supermoon” is unique because it’s a special seasonal blue moon and it will be the last blue moon until May 20, 2027, according to USA Today. A seasonal blue moon is the third of four full moons in a season (the time between a solstice and an equinox).
The best time to view the supermoon is when it’s at the horizon so that you have buildings, trees, hills or mountains to compare it to when the moon is low on the horizon. So the best viewing times are either just after moonrise or just before moonset, even if it’s not at the exact minute of the super moon’s peak effect.
San Francisco Moonrise/Moonset Times for Ideal Viewing
On August 19, 2024, the moonrise is 8:19 pm and the moonset is 6:11 am.
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Cost: FREE
Categories: **Annual Event**, *Top Pick*, Celestial Events, East Bay, Geek Event, In Person, Kids & Families, North Bay, Peninsula, San Francisco, South Bay
