Look to the sky: The rare super blue moon will be visible in Iowa on Monday

Don't miss the rare phenomenon in the sky Monday night that (probably) won't happen again for years. A full moon that is both a supermoon and a blue moon will grace the night skies over the U.S.

Dubbed a "super blue moon," the rare combination occurs when the different cycles of blue and super moons happen to align on the calendar, said NASA's Noah Petro, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter project scientist .

When is the super blue moon in Iowa?

Monday’s supermoon will reach its full peak at 1:26 p.m. CT, according to NASA , but you'll notice its luminance until early Wednesday morning.

It won't actually appear blue, but recent wildfires may cause it to look orange .

Will the super blue moon be visible in Iowa?

It'll be a clear and sunny day Monday afternoon, with mostly clear skies into the night as well, according to the National Weather Service , making for perfect viewing opportunities in central Iowa.

More: The super blue moon in 2024: What to know

What is a supermoon?

When the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual, this cosmic combo is called a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full.

When the moon reaches its closest point to Earth, about 226,000 miles away, full moons appears larger and brighter than at other times. A supermoon will appear 30% brighter and 14% larger than a typical full moon.

What is a blue moon?

There are two types of blue moons: seasonal and monthly. The one Monday will be of the seasonal variety.

A seasonal blue moon occurs when there are four full moons in a single season (on this occasion, summer). When this happens, the third of the four is considered a blue moon.

The second definition — which arose from a misunderstanding of the original — is the monthly blue moon, referring to the second full moon in a single calendar month.

In either case, blue moons earn their reputation for being rare because of a quirk in the typical rhythm of one full moon per month.

When will the next super blue moon actually occur?

A safe bet is January 2037, according to NASA .

However, depending on what you count as a super blue moon, you may hear of another one rising before then.

Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Look to the sky: The rare super blue moon will be visible in Iowa on Monday