Two full moons in one month.. The “blue moon” lights up the UAE sky during May

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society and member of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, revealed a distinctive astronomical phenomenon taking place in the skies of the UAE during the current month of May, as the full moon becomes full twice within one calendar month, which is known as the “blue moon.”

Al-Jarwan told “Emirates Today” that the event will begin with the first full moon on the second of May, then return and be completed again on the thirty-first of the same month, explaining that this repetition comes as a result of the time difference between the lunar cycle (29.5 days) and the length of the month of May (31 days), which allows for the appearance of two full moons if the first occurs at the beginning of the month.

He pointed out that the appearance of the full moon twice in one month is one of the astronomical events that arouses the interest of scientists and amateurs alike. This event is known as the “Blue Moon,” and it is not a “phenomenon” characterized by a distinctive observation such as a lunar eclipse. Rather, it is merely a name for the second full moon in the same Gregorian month when two full moons occur during it, meaning that the moon will be natural and in its usual form, but it is a common name, such as “Badr Al-Harvest” and “Badr Al-Sayyin,” which also observes a regular full moon..

The full moon phase occurs when the Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon, and the sunlight is completely reflected on the surface of the Moon facing the Earth, so its disk appears completely illuminated.

The lunar cycle takes about 29.5 days, which is the period between one full moon and the next.

He explained that in most months, the moon appears full only once, but when the full moon comes in the first days of the month, the time interval allows for a second full moon to occur at the end of it, and this is what is happening this May, as the two full moons are approximately 29 days apart, as the month of May contains 31 days..

He stated that the “blue moon” phenomenon occurs approximately every two to three years, so it is a special event, but not very rare.

He stressed that the clarity of the sky in the UAE provides an ideal environment for following and seeing the moon with the naked eye, especially at the moment of sunrise after sunset. Astronomers can also use close-up binoculars to see the details of the lunar craters and the moon’s topography more clearly.

He stressed that there are no abnormal effects, explaining that this phenomenon does not have any unusual scientific effects, as the effect of the natural moon is limited to the tidal movement resulting from gravity, regardless of its repeated appearance as a full moon during a single month, stressing that the event represents an opportunity to enhance scientific culture and reflect on the accuracy of the cosmic system.

The event represents a beautiful astronomical opportunity to follow the regularity of the moon’s movement around the Earth, and reminds us of the precision of this universe and the magnificence of its phenomena. It also works to attract interest in astronomy and promote scientific culture.

Although the “Blue Moon” is not a supernatural event, it remains a special experience worth contemplating and watching.