A rare moon event that won’t happen again until 2053 is set to light up skies over Charlotte this weekend. Astronomers say a “blue micromoon” will peak early Sunday morning.
A blue moon occurs when two full moons appear within the same calendar month. Since the first full moon of May occurred on May 1, this weekend’s full moon qualifies as a blue moon. These events typically happen only once every two to three years.
The moon will also be a micromoon because it will occur near the farthest point in its orbit from Earth. At about 252,360 miles away, it will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than a typical full moon. A micromoon is the opposite of a supermoon, which appears larger because it is closer to Earth.
Skywatchers will also be able to spot Antares glowing near the moon throughout the night. Known as the “Heart of the Scorpion,” the bright red star sits about 550 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius.
