Astronomy lovers will be treated to a spectacular super blue moon which is set to dazzle skies across the UK tonight.
Despite its name, a 'blue moon' actually refers to the timing of the moon, rather than its colour and is a term used for when we see the full moon twice in a single month, according to NASA.
The supermoon part simply means that the moon is at its closest point in orbit to Earth, making it appear substantially brighter up to 14 per cent larger to all of us down below.
It's rare for the two to coincide, after tonight the next super blue moon is not expected for another 14 years so this is definitely not something you will want to miss.
Here's everything you need to know about tonight's super blue moon and the exact time you may catch a glimpse of it..
When and how to see the super blue moon in the UK
The super blue moon will become 100% full at 19:25 BST on Monday night but many of us may still not be able to see it due to poor visibility. Moon rises at around 20:50 BST in the roughly east sky and will then set on Tuesday morning at around 06:35 in the western sky.
Unfortunately, the weather forecast does not appear to be our side with cloud and patchy rain making its way across the UK. As a result, there will only be limited times where the skies should clear at different points throughout the night.
However, you could still have an opportunity to see it the following evening. Despite the blue super moon not technically being full on Tuesday night, it'll still be near full and there will be a higher likelihood of clear skies.
Your best chance is heading somewhere with less light pollution away from buildings that may obstruct your view. Although, you don't need any equipment to see the moon, it may be better to take a telescope or a pair of binoculars to a hill for an even better view.
What is a blue moon?
There are two types of blue moon - monthly and seasonal.
A seasonal blue moon is the traditional definition of a blue moon and refers to the third full moon in a season that has four full moons according to NASA.
The second definition is the monthly blue moon which refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month which is what this upcoming blue moon is.
A moon cycle phase generally lasts one month, and on earth we usually see 12 full moons each year.
The lunar cycle usually takes 29.5 days to complete which means it takes just 354 days to complete 12 lunar cycles.
So every 2.5 years or so a 13th extra full moon is observed within a calendar year. This 13th full moon doesn't conform to the normal naming scheme and is referred to as the Blue Moon.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon refers to when the moon is closest to the Earth, known as the lunar perigee. Each month, the moon passes through the point closest to Earth (perigee) and the point farthest from Earth (apogee).
When the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth at the same time as it is full, it is known as a 'super moon'. Because the moon is a little bit closer to us than usual at this point, it can appear larger and brighter in the sky above us.
NASA states that the moon can look 14 per cent bigger at perigee than apogee. Supermoons usually happen three to four times a year with the next one occurring on September 18 2024.
How rare is a blue and supermoon together?
Despite both the blue moon and the supermoon happening more often than people may think, when combined they are a very rare occurrence.
NASA states that around 25 percent of all full moons are supermoons, but only 3 percent of full moons are blue moons, meaning the time between super blue moons is quite irregular.
Two decades can pass before seeing another one but in general, 10 years is the average.
The next super blue moons will happen in a pair, during January and March 2037.
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What is the super blue moon's spiritual meaning?
According to astrologers, the blue moon brings about intensified emotions and energy.
Some believe it is a sign of forgiveness and an opportunity to make changes in your life and work on your self growth.
Those who are spiritual, see the full moon as an important time of the month already and the blue moon only heightens that significance. Take this as a sign to do something you've been putting off while you find a deeper connection with your inner self.
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