The cosmos is offering up a double feature in August: a pair of supermoons culminating in a rare blue moon.

Catch the first show Tuesday evening as the full moon rises in the southeast, appearing slightly brighter and bigger than normal. ThatB次元官网网址檚 because it will be closer than usual, just 222,159 miles (357,530 kilometers) away, thus the supermoon label.

The moon will be even closer the night of Aug. 30 B次元官网网址� a scant 222,043 miles (357,344 kilometers) distant. Because itB次元官网网址檚 the second full moon in the same month, it will be whatB次元官网网址檚 called a blue moon.

B次元官网网址淲arm summer nights are the ideal time to watch the full moon rise in the eastern sky within minutes of sunset. And it happens twice in August,B次元官网网址� said retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, dubbed Mr. Eclipse for his eclipse-chasing expertise.

The last time two full supermoons graced the sky in the same month was in 2018. It wonB次元官网网址檛 happen again until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.

Masi will provide a live of Tuesday eveningB次元官网网址檚 supermoon, as it rises over the Coliseum in Rome.

B次元官网网址淢y plans are to capture the beauty of this B次元官网网址� hopefully bringing the emotion of the show to our viewers,B次元官网网址� Masi said in an email.

B次元官网网址淭he supermoon offers us a great opportunity to look up and discover the sky,B次元官网网址� he added.

This yearB次元官网网址檚 first supermoon was in July. The fourth and last will be in September. The two in August will be closer than either of those.

Provided clear skies, binoculars or backyard telescopes can enhance the experience, Espenak said, revealing such features as lunar maria B次元官网网址� the dark plains formed by ancient volcanic lava flows B次元官网网址� and rays emanating from lunar craters.

According to the Old FarmerB次元官网网址檚 Almanac, the August full moon is traditionally known as the sturgeon moon. ThatB次元官网网址檚 because of the abundance of that fish in the Great Lakes in August, hundreds of years ago.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical InstituteB次元官网网址檚 Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press

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