1 blue moon, 6 supermoons to light night sky this 2015

The rare super moon over European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France (ShutterStock image).

MANILA – An officer from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said that skygazers can expect the appearance of one blue moon and six supermoons this 2015.

Jose Mendoza, chief of PAGASA’s Astronomical Publication Unit said that the supermoons are scheduled to appear on January 22, February 19, March 20, August 30, September 28, and October 26.

The most visible and closest to the earth is the one on September 28 which will be seen at 9:47 a.m.

“Astrologer Richard Nolle said that if a moon is within 90 percent of its closest approach to earth or less than 361,836 km, it is called a supermoon,” said Mendoza. He also mentioned that in astronomy, a supermoon is usually referred to as perigee full moon.

He claimed that there are instances wherein a supermoon can affect the earth’s tides “but only minimal and will not cause flooding.

”

Meanwhile, Mendoza said that the full moon will be seen twice in July – July 2 and 31- with the latter being a “blue moon.”

“It happens because sometimes the number of days in a calendar month is greater than the cycles of the moon, which is 29.5 days,” he explained. “That is why there is a saying ‘once in a blue moon’ because this event rarely happens in one calendar month,” he added.

When asked about strange events involved in lunar activities, Mendoza said that those are just myths.