Look up tonight! Full Buck SUPERMOON will light up skies around the world – how to see it

Astronomy enthusiasts can rejoice as tonight the first supermoon of 2023 will light up the skies around the world.

The so-called ‘Buck Moon’ is expected to shine tonight around 10:24 PM GMT (1:43 PM EDT) before reaching its full phase tomorrow morning in a magnificent start to the month of July.

Both Mars and Venus could also be visible once darkness engulfs the western horizon in the UK just after 10:40pm GMT and in the US at 1:45am EDT, according to Stellarium.

The spectacle takes place when the moon reaches its full phase, which occurs every 29.5 days.

But since this is a supermoon, our lunar satellite will look 5.8 percent larger and shine 12.8 percent brighter than a regular full moon. Star walk Has claimed.

This is because the moon arrives at its closest point to Earth at 224,895 miles (361,934 km) — about 13,959 miles (22,466 km) closer than normal.

This is called “perigee,” and at this time, the moon can appear up to 14 percent larger than normal.

Since the supermoon takes place in July, it is called the “Full Buck Moon” – a name given by the Native Americans.

‘Buck’ refers to young male deer that grow new antlers each year in early July.

In the Southern Hemisphere, this phase is also referred to as the “Wolf Moon” or the “Ice Moon,” while the Celtics called it the Moon of Claiming.

Meanwhile, some Asian cultures call it the “Hungry Ghost Moon,” which will be celebrated in August.

As part of the Hungry Ghost Festival, people generally present food offerings to the souls of the dead who are believed to roam the area.

These perishable goods are among the gold and other goods that many believe will prevent souls from harming.

Conspiracy theories have surrounded supermoons and full moons for a long time, with some doubt about whether they can affect your emotions or even make people more violent.

The belief that the moon influences human health first emerged in early folklore, Royal Museums Greenwich reports, with common appeal being more sleep problems and seizures.

While the scientific basis for such links is weak, some recent studies claim to have found a link between the moon and sleep.

According to Stellarium, Mars and Venus could also be visible once darkness engulfs the western horizon in the UK just after 10:40pm GMT and in the US at 1:45am EDT

Supermoons occur when the moon is at “perigee” — its closest proximity to Earth

In 2021, scientists at Yale and the University of Washington found that people generally have more trouble falling asleep during a full moon.

This was related to differences in light intensity that prevented falling asleep in the early hours of the night.

The study explained: ‘In this context, it is mainly moonlight during the first hours of the night that is more likely to cause changes in sleep onset.

“Moonlight, on the other hand, late at night, when most people are usually asleep, should have little impact on sleep onset or duration.”

While July 3rd will see the first supermoon of the year, the next one isn’t too far off.

It is expected to take place on August 1 at 6:31 PM GMT (2:31 PM EDT).

While Venus and Mars should be visible once darkness sets in, it’s important to bring binoculars or a telescope to a good spot to watch the stars.

NASA also recommends checking the weather forecast ahead of time to find a clear area.

This should also provide an unobstructed view of the horizon, avoiding buildings and blaring city lights.

To distinguish between stars and planets, observers must look for objects that do not twinkle among the flickering stars.

But don’t worry if you miss the spectacle.

There will be a number of astronomical events in the coming month, including the peak of five meteor showers.

Observers in the Northern Hemisphere can expect to see July’s pegasids around July 23, with a maximum of five meteors per hour.

This will kick up a notch by July 30, as the Southern Aquarids will peak with a shower of about 25 meteors every hour.

The phases of the moon

Like the Earth, the moon has a day side and a night side, which change as the moon rotates.

The sun always illuminates half of the moon while the other half remains dark, but how much of that illuminated half we can see changes as the moon travels through its orbit.

In the northern hemisphere, the phases of the moon are:

1. New Moon

This is the invisible phase of the moon, with the illuminated side of the moon facing the sun and the night side facing the Earth.

2. Waxing Crescent Moon

This silver sliver of a moon occurs when the illuminated half of the moon is mostly pointed away from Earth, with only a small portion visible to us from our planet.

3. First quarter

The Moon is now a quarter of its monthly journey and you see half of its illuminated side.

4. Waxing Gibbous

Now most of the moon’s day side has come into view and the moon appears brighter in the sky.

5. Full Moon

This is the closest thing to seeing the sun’s illumination from the full day side of the moon.

6. Waning Gibbous

As the moon begins its journey back to the sun, the far side of the moon now reflects the moon’s light.

7. Last quarter

The moon looks like it’s half lit from Earth’s perspective, but in reality you’re seeing half of the half of the moon being lit by the sun — or a quarter.

8. Waning Crescent Moon

The Moon is almost back to the point in its orbit where the day side is pointed directly at the Sun, and all we see from our perspective is a thin curve.