The largest and brightest moon of this year is expected to light up the sky worldwide on Wednesday and Thursday.

This is a rare opportunity to see the moon known as the "super blue moon," which last appeared in 2009. A blue moon occurs when the sequence of days in the lunar months of the year results in the birth of 13 full moons instead of the usual 12 full moons.

If the sky is clear, the best time to witness this magnificent sight will be in the early hours of Thursday morning.

This blue moon is also known as a supermoon, and it will appear larger and brighter than usual this time. This is because the moon is at its closest point in its orbit around the Earth.

Those hoping to see the moon colored blue will be disappointed, as the name (described as blue) has nothing to do with its color. It was named so to distinguish it from other moons, as it does not fall under the known naming scheme for moons.

Cultures around the world, including Native American communities, give names to the full moon, or the full moon's phase.

The moon completes its cycle once a month, meaning that the average year consists of 12 cycles. However, the phases of the moon actually take 29.5 days to complete, or 354 days for 12 cycles.

This is less than the 365/366 days in the solar year, which is why the 13th full moon appears approximately every two and a half years, making the appearance of a blue moon rare.

The last appearance of a blue moon was in August 2021, and the next blue moon will be in 2026, but the combination of a blue moon and a supermoon is very rare, so we will have to wait until 2037 to see it again.

No special equipment, such as a telescope, is needed to observe the event; simply looking at the sky towards the south will be sufficient.

The moon will be fully visible in the sky at exactly 9:36 PM Toronto time, with peak visibility just before dawn on Thursday. As long as the weather is clear and there are no clouds, the moonrise is expected to be spectacular as it appears above the horizon shortly after sunset.