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Explainer | How to see a blue moon in East Asian skies this weekend: when the phenomenon will occur, what to expect, and which places will have the best view
- Four full moons are visible in the same three-month astronomical season. The third is a blue moon, which appears in the sky underneath the planet Jupiter
- If skies are clear it can be a spectacular sight, and it will be 100 per cent illuminated when it appears over Hong Kong on August 22
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Why you can trust SCMP
No, it won’t look blue, but this weekend’s blue moon will please stargazers who crave a beautiful view of a full moon hanging low in the sky underneath the bright planet Jupiter.
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The upcoming full moon will be 100 per cent illuminated when seen from Hong Kong at 8.03pm local time on Sunday, August 22.
It comes 15 months after May 2020’s “super blood moon” total lunar eclipse, during which social distancing rules were flouted on Hung Hom promenade by astronomy buffs straining to see the lunar satellite briefly turn red.
That won’t happen this month because the full moon will not travel through Earth’s shadow, but in clear skies it promises to be a spectacular sight. Here’s what you need to know about this month’s blue moon.
Why is it called a blue moon?
The phrase “once in a blue moon” refers to an occurrence that is very rare, and a “blue moon” is indeed rare, part of a sequence of four full moons visible in the same three-month astronomical season.
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