[News Terms] "Today at 7:29 PM... If You Miss This Time, You'll Have to Wait 14 Years"

Tonight (the 31st), the 'Super Blue Moon,' which you won't be able to see again for another 14 years if you miss it, refers to the phenomenon where a Supermoon and a Blue Moon appear simultaneously.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

A Supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth, called the perigee. At this time, the moon is about 357,000 km away from the Earth and appears about 14% larger than usual. It is also about 30% brighter than a typical moon. This phenomenon occurs because the moon's orbit around the Earth is elliptical, not a perfect circle.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

A Blue Moon refers to the second full moon occurring within a single calendar month based on the solar calendar. Since the moon's orbital period is about 27.3 days and the lunar phase cycle is 29.5 days, this can happen in months with 30 or 31 days. For example, if a full moon appears around the 1st day of the month, another full moon can appear again on the 30th or 31st. The Blue Moon is unrelated to the color of the moon and is believed to have originated from the old English word 'belewe,' meaning 'to betray,' as full moons were considered ominous signs in Western culture.

The Super Blue Moon refers to the day when these two phenomena occur simultaneously. It is the day when the moon is at its particularly close perigee to the Earth and is also the second full moon of that month. This phenomenon is very rare. The most recent Super Blue Moon occurred on January 31, 2018. The next Super Blue Moon will appear on January 31, 2037.

Size Difference Between Supermoon and Micromoon
Photo by Gokseong-gun

Meanwhile, the best time to see the Super Blue Moon with the naked eye in Korea tonight is at 7:29 PM, when the full moon just begins to rise.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.