Be sure to look up this August! The night skies have a lot in store for us this month: two captivating supermoons, including a blue moon.
A supermoon is a celestial event that describes the moon at its closest proximity to the Earth in its orbit. As a result, the moon appears to be bigger and glowing brighter than usual.
The first supermoon, known as the sturgeon moon, will appear on August 1, 2023. It’s set to reach peak illumination at 5:32 p.m. — which means you can catch a good glimpse of it once the sun allows. The clever name of the moon comes from the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain that were caught during this part of the summer season.
That’s not all the moon has up its sleeve. The blue supermoon will be visible on August 30 through 31 2023 — closing the month on a high note. Despite what you may think, the nickname is not related to the moon’s color but refers to the fact that it’s the second full moon within a calendar month. Blue moons are relatively rare occurrences, happening once every 2.5 years.
You can calculate the exact time to catch these glowing beauties in your time zone here. So, grab your loved ones, set out some blankets, and get ready to feast your eyes on some supermoons this August.