Why Was the Moon Orange Last Night? Wildfire Smoke Turns NYC Sky Hazy

Wildfire Smoke Turns NYC Sky Hazy, Giving the Moon an Orange Tint

You might have noticed the moon looking a little different last night in the New York City area. Many were wondering why it appeared orange or pink.

The culprit? Smoke from wildfires burning in Central Canada, according to CBS News New York meteorologist Craig Allen. This smoke, mixed with plumes from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, has been traveling south, impacting the tri-state area.

<figure> <img src="https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/16/2ab27ea1-9e4e-42c7-974d-b6f7dcdcabc9/thumbnail/620x413/3d1a783858d036520c223e06878f661b/gettyimages-1616841794.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9#" alt="The Sturgeon Supermoon breaks through the clouds above the Statue of Liberty at Liberty State Park, New Jersey " height="413" width="620" data-srcset="https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/16/2ab27ea1-9e4e-42c7-974d-b6f7dcdcabc9/thumbnail/620x413/3d1a783858d036520c223e06878f661b/gettyimages-1616841794.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9 1x, https://assets3.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/08/16/2ab27ea1-9e4e-42c7-974d-b6f7dcdcabc9/thumbnail/1240x826/01fb51eef1de96346c8e2a86a5542f79/gettyimages-1616841794.jpg?v=d8f7565ef3e8b72561ee316b5993cbf9 2x" srcset="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20viewBox%3D'0%200%20620%20413'%2F%3E"> <figcaption>The Sturgeon Supermoon breaks through the clouds above the Statue of Liberty in New Jersey.</figcaption> </figure>

As more smoke arrives, the sky is taking on a hazy, gray appearance with a yellow or orange tint, instead of its usual blue. While this might affect the sky's color, sunrise and sunset have been spectacular, as have moonrise and moonset.

Thankfully, this is not as severe as the wildfire smoke New York City experienced in 2023, when air quality was severely impacted. This time, the smoke is being carried by upper air winds, so ground-level air quality is not as bad.

A Super Blue Moon Awaits

The smoke is expected to clear the tri-state area over the weekend, just in time for a rare astronomical event: a super blue moon on Monday. This unique lunar spectacle combines a supermoon, which appears 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual, with a blue moon, the second full moon in a month.

August's full moon is also nicknamed the sturgeon moon, making this a truly special event. Blue moons occur only once every two and a half years, so don't miss this chance to witness a celestial wonder.