Rare Blue Moon is set to light up sky on May 31, to be visible in Gujarat

People are set to witness a rare celestial event on May 31 as a Blue Moon appears in the night sky. The phenomenon, which refers to the second full moon in a calendar month, has sparked curiosity among people. 

Despite its name, a Blue Moon does not actually appear blue. The term refers to a rare calendar-based phenomenon rather than a change in the Moon's colour. A seasonal Blue Moon occurs when an astronomical season contains four full moons instead of the usual three, making the third full moon of that season a Blue Moon, as per reports.

The good news for skywatchers is that no special travel plans will be needed to witness this celestial event. The Blue Moon will be visible across Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, and Vadodara, as well as the rest of India. Anyone with a clear view of the sky will be able to observe the phenomenon with the naked eye, weather permitting.

This rare event reportedly occurs because the lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, allowing an extra full moon to occasionally fit within a single season. As a result, that phenomenon appears roughly once every two and a half years.

On May 31, the Moon will retain its usual bright white and grey appearance. For the Moon to actually look blue, unusual atmospheric conditions such as volcanic eruptions or large scale wildfires must scatter red light and allow more blue light to pass through. Since no such conditions are expected, skywatchers will see a normal but dazzling full moon, the report cited. 

For skywatchers, the Blue Moon will be visible without the need for any equipment as it will be clearly visible across India with the naked eye.