Tonight's event may not happen again for another 14 years
UK skies will be lit up by a rare Blue Super Moon tonight which may not appear again for another 14 years.
The moon's cycle spans 29 and a half days, with a full moon beginning at the start of the month every two to three years. This special event is known as a 'blue moon'. However, an even rarer event is the Blue Super Moon where the full moon takes place at the 'perigee' - when the moon is both full and at or near its closest point to Earth. Due to its proximity to Earth, the moon will be roughly 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent larger, the Mirror reports.Tonight will mark the first time in five years that two super moons have appeared in the same month - an event that will likely not happen again until 2037.
Fortunately, super moons are much easier to spot than other astronomical events such as shooting stars. The Royal Observatory at Greenwich says everyone should be able to see the "unmistakable white orb in the sky".Dr Greg Brown, astronomer at the Royal Observatory, said: "If you have a clear enough view to the south, it will be easily visible to the unaided eye."
He added while the Blue Super Moon will peak in the early hours of Thursday, visibility should be good for around a day on either side. The best view is said to be just after sunset - or at moonrise - or moonset, just before sunrise.
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