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Most years have 12 full moons — one every month.That’s because the moon takes a little under a month, or 29 1/2 days, to complete a cycle from full moon to full moon.In 2020, however, observant skywatchers will be able to see 13 full moons, two of which will be supermoons.A supermoon looks slightly larger in the sky because the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest point to Earth.This year’s supermoons will both occur in the spring — back to back. The first supermoon occurs on March 9, and observers will see the second on on April 7.Technically, the moon is slightly closer and will appear larger in April, but even the most perceptive observers won’t be able to tell a size difference between the two supermoons.While back-to-back supermoons may sound impressive, the real rarity occurs in the fall: a blue moon. A blue moon is the second full moon in a single month, and they occur about every 2 1/2 years.This year, October has two full moons, and the blue moon falls on Halloween — a rare occurrence that won’t happen again until 2039.The last time we saw a blue moon was March 31, 2018, and the next after this year won’t happen again until Aug. 31, 2023.Watch this YouTube video from Storm Shield App to learn more about blue moons:Did you know the full moons have names? These mostly originate from Native American tribes or, in some cases, medieval Europeans.
Moonwatchers will have a special year in 2020, with 13 full moons to brighten the night sky, including three supermoons and four lunar eclipses. Four lunar eclipses and even a blue moon. Moon phase for march 9, 2020. Get moonrise, moonset, moon age, moon distance for march 9, 2020.