First super moon of the year to be observed in Vietnam early August 20

Astronomers say the first super moon of 2024 will light up the night sky on August 19 (UTC time) or early on August 20 morning in Vietnam, starting at 01:25a.m., and the moon will appear full for three days.

Super moons typically occur about 3-4 times a year and this August astronomy enthusiasts have the chance to watch a relatively rare astronomical phenomenon where a super moon and blue moon will coincide - a combination that happens only once every few decades.

NASA says although it will not look blue, as the third full moon in a season with four full moons, this will be a blue moon. The last blue moon came on August 30-31, 2023. The moon carries the name Blue because it was the second full moon in a single month.

But the blue moon of August 19, 2024, is different. It’s the third of four full moons in a season. And the August 19, 2024 blue moon is more - it’s also a super moon, in fact, the first of four full super moons in a row. 

Experts say the blue moon was a purely cultural matter of many Western countries in the past. There are two different definitions of a blue moon, and both involve the inclusion of the full moon in present-day calendar.  

Accordingly, the seasonal blue moon is the third full moon in an astronomical season of four full moons. A monthly blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month with two full moons.

The August 2024 blue moon in Vietnam is the seasonal blue moon, and Vietnamese people have to wait until May 31, 2026 to be able to admire the blue moon by month.