A rare blue supermoon will soon shine over California. What is it — and when can I see it?

A blue supermoon will soon cast its light over California.

According to Space.com, the rare celestial event will occur at 11:26 a.m. Monday.

The full moon will be both a supermoon and a blue moon, NASA said on its website.

What is a supermoon? When can I see it in California?

According to NASA, a supermoon is a new or full moon that’s “within 90% of its closest approach to Earth,” NASA said. Full supermoons are the biggest and brightest moons of the year.

The term was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Noelle.

Although August’s supermoon will rise during the day, you should still be able to see it in the sky above California.

“The moon can be seen in the daylit sky at any phase except for the new moon, when it’s invisible to us, and full moon, when it’s below the horizon during the day,” NASA said.

August’s supermoon is the first of four that will appear over California in coming months.

The next supermoons will take place on Sept. 17, Oct. 17 and Nov. 15, Space.com said.

What is a blue moon?

The upcoming supermoon is also a seasonal blue moon, according to Space.com.

A blue moon is the third full moon in a season that has four full moons.

Unfortunately, the name of the moon has no bearing on its color.

When can I see the full moon in California?

According to NASA, the supermoon blue moon will appear full for three days , from Sunday morning to early Wednesday morning.

The Sacramento , Modesto , Fresno and San Luis Obispo areas should experience mostly sunny weather and clear skies during that time period, according to the National Weather Service’s latest forecasts.

Is a super blue moon rare?

Full moons are typically 20 to 30 days apart, Kyle Watters, director of the Sacramento State Planetarium, told The Sacramento Bee in 2023.

Having two in one month is what makes this one “blue,” he explained.

“It is pretty rare for there to be two full moons in the same month,” Watters said.

The term “once in a blue moon” is often used to express a rare occurrence.

“I have been told that the phrase ‘once in a blue moon’ is actually older than the astronomy use of “blue moon” to mean the second full moon in a month,” Watters said.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com .