The first supermoon of 2024 will make an appearance on Monday night. It is also a rare blue moon - the second full moon in one month.
But will western Washingtonians be able to see it? Potentially - but it will be popping out from between the clouds.
It will be partly sunny to mostly cloudy across the Puget Sound region on Monday, with more clouds and rain chances rolling in on Tuesday and sticking around through mid-week. For those on the coast, rain will start Monday, decreasing the odds for a supermoon viewing.
The supermoon is expected to appear full through Wednesday, but Monday is likely your best chance to see it. Cloud cover will continue to get thicker as we move through the week, according to the KING 5 Weather Team. There are additional chances for thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday.
What is a supermoon?
More a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit.
A supermoon obviously isn’t bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference can be barely perceptible.
“Unless you have looked at a lot of full moons or compare them in images, it is hard to notice the difference, but people should try,” Petro said in an email.
Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can discern the subtle differences. It's easier to detect the change in brightness — a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.
