Did you miss Wednesday night's super blue moon? We've got pics from around the world

It was big, bold and bright — even if it wasn't very blue.

Wednesday night's super rare super blue moon lit up the sky across Iowa, despite haze from wildfires initially dimming its grand entrance. It was the second full moon in August, which is why it’s called a “blue” moon. The "blue" designation doesn't have anything to do with its color.

NASA says a blue supermoon happens about every 10 years, and the next one isn’t until 2037.

What is a blue supermoon?

A moon is called a supermoon when it is unusually close to Earth. When the two occur simultaneously, it is called a blue supermoon. 

The moon's average cycle, 29.5 days, is just shorter than the average length of a calendar month. Every two to three years, a full moon will happen in the first few days of a given month; then a second will appear just before the next month begins.

The first full moon in August, which was also a supermoon, was on the first day of the month.

There is also an alternate definition of a blue moon: when there are four full moons in a single season, the third is considered a blue moon, the Farmers' Almanac says.

What is a supermoon?

A supermoon is when the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth in its oval-shaped orbit.

Because of its proximity, the moon will appear brighter and slightly larger, about the size difference between a quarter and nickel, according to NASA.

A supermoon can also cause higher tides than usual.

The upcoming blue moon will be the closest and brightest supermoon of the year, according to Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Contributing: Doyle Rice