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Skywatchers are in for a treat this weekend as spring’s third full moon will neighbor a bright red Mars in Saturday’s night sky.
According to EarthSky, the May 21 full moon is known as a “blue moon,” not because it’s the second of two full moons in a month (as is usually dubbed a blue moon), but because it’s the third of four full moons in a season.
Along similar lines, most years have 12 full moons. About every three years there is a 13th full moon. The extra full moon is called a blue moon.
Most seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) have three full moons. Occasionally, there will be four full moons in a season. The third full moon is called a blue moon.
The full moon Saturday is the third full moon this spring (the others being March 23, April 21, and June 20).
To view the blue moon on Saturday, look toward the southeast at 10 p.m. The moon will be 27 degrees above the horizon.
Six degrees to the right (south) of the moon is Mars which is becoming very bright. Mars is at opposition on Sunday night (on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun) and is at relatively close approach to the Earth and visible most of the night.
Also Saturday, Saturn will be 8 degrees below the moon toward the horizon. These stellar wonders are close to the bright red star Antares “the rival of Mars” at the heart of Scorpius the Scorpion. Judge for yourself whether Antares rivals Mars when Mars is at its best.
Viewers can ask questions during the show by sending them to @Slooh on Twitter, or by joining in a live chat on Slooh.com.
The broadcast begins at 1am on March 22
Agencies/Canadajournal
