Watch next week! Sturgeon SUPERMOON will light up the sky Tuesday evening – this is how you get the best view
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Watch next week! Sturgeon SUPERMOON will light up the sky Tuesday evening – this is how you get the best view
- Stargazers can indulge themselves, because the second full supermoon of 2023 is just around the corner
- The ‘Sturgeon Moon’ is believed to rise at 9:23 PM GMT and 8:40 PM EDT
Skies around the world will be lit up next week by a “Sturgeon Moon” in a spectacle that marks the beginning of August.
Stargazers are in for a treat on Tuesday, as the second full supermoon of the year will occur at 19:31 BST (14:31 ET) and rise at 21:23 BST (20:40 ET).
Many believe that the so-called ‘Sturgeon Moon’ got its name from the sturgeon fish found in the Great Lakes of North America.
A supermoon occurs when a full moon nearly coincides with its perigee — the point in the moon’s orbit at which it is closest to Earth.
At this time, the moon can appear as much as 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than a normal full moon, though it depends on the time of year.
Stargazers can indulge themselves, because the second full supermoon of 2023 is just around the corner
“Supermoon is a popular term that refers to a full moon or a new moon that occurs when our satellite is close to its perigee, i.e. its minimum distance from Earth,” said astrophysicist Giana Masi, who Virtual telescope project.
“The term itself has no scientific value: astronomers prefer to call it perigee full moon, but “Supermoon” is undoubtedly a much more charming name.”
While Native Americans generally refer to August’s Supermoon as the “Sturgeon Moon,” the “Corn Moon,” “Ricing Moon,” and “Black Cherries Moon” are among other nicknames.
Meanwhile, the Anglo-Saxons also called it the “Grain Moon,” according to Star walk.
The Supermoon on August 1 is the second of 2023, following the “Buck Moon” earlier this month – with “Buck” referring to young male deer growing new antlers in early July.
To spot the supermoon on Tuesday, experts suggest moving away from a major city or town and going high to catch a spot of clear skies.
Turning off the lights in your home can also improve visibility, though your chances depend largely on the weather and even pollution.
At the point in the Moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth, it appears 14 percent larger than a micromoon, and vice versa
Pictured: The Sturgeon supermoon rises behind buildings in Amman, Jordan’s capital in the Middle East, earlier today
Masi added: ‘Observing the sky from the city is extremely important to raise awareness about the problem of light pollution. The supermoon offers us a great opportunity to look up and discover the sky.
‘By showing the overwhelming beauty up there, nurturing the desire to enjoy it more and better, understanding why it is disappearing from our cities, it is possible to engage people and spontaneously take responsible actions and behaviors when using stimulate artificial light.’
Don’t worry if you miss the spectacle.
On August 31, a ‘Blue Moon’ will also light up the skies around the world at 02:35 BST and (21:35 ET).
According to Starwalk, this will be the largest and brightest Full Moon of 2023, being 7.2 percent larger and 15.7 percent brighter than a typical Full Moon.
Conspiracy theories have long surrounded supermoons and full moons, with some doubt as to whether they can affect human health.
Believe this first originated in early folklore, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich, with common appeal to increased sleep problems and seizures.
While the scientific basis for such links is weak, some recent studies claim to have found a small connection between the moon and sleep.