Supermoon
It’s been asked before . . . what’s a supermoon?
Isn’t it where . . . some lovers swoon?
In anticipation, placing chair . . . in the afternoon?
All of those, . . . particularly August supermoons!
© Forrest W. Heaton August 2023
It turns out there were large crowds in Europe, the America’s and Asia who witnessed Tuesday 1Aug23 what has been called a supermoon in the night sky. Some call it a Sturgeon Moon due to it’s time of year relative to the best time for catching sturgeon. Here is an image of a supermoon.
Is it not magnificent?!? This post is to alert you that another is coming Wednesday 30 August. Because it will be the second full moon this month, it is known as a Blue Moon. It will be the closest, biggest and brightest of the supermoons this year. We can only hope for clear skies, no light pollution, and a good viewing place. The first supermoon occurred this year Monday 3Jul23. The fourth and final supermoon of the year will occur Friday 29Sep23. It is often called a Harvest Moon.
Our moon is called a supermoon (word coined in 1979) when it is closest to the Earth in its orbit—approximately 222,100 miles from Earth—making it appear approximately 14 to 16 percent larger and approximately 8 to 30 percent brighter. As for how often two supermoons appear in the same month, the next time two supermoons will occur in the same month will be January 2037, fourteen years from now. You’re about to witness a celestial rarity.
Speaking of rarities, the term Blue Moon is most commonly used when there are two full Moons in a single month—again something of a rarity. But, despite it’s name, the Blue Moon doesn’t appear blue. The name actually refers to a 16th century expression referring to something that rarely or never happens. The Moon on 30 August will be BOTH a supermoon and a blue moon—a blue supermoon! The last time there was a blue supermoon was Dec. 2009 and the next one will occur August 2032.
It may require some planning to prepare for this upcoming stunning display.
First is some reading up. Not all Blue Moons are supermoons. This makes the 30 August full Moon all the more exceptional. Second, the closeness of the Moon to the Earth impacts the Earth. If you are close to water, check the levels and tides. Third, try to maximize your viewing point (least light pollution, least obstruction, most comfort, since the rising Moon appears larger (it’s not), see the rising Moon on the horizon if possible.) Fourth, if you are a photographer, get your equipment ready.
Although there are many outstanding photos of supermoons, we’ll offer, as our arrivederci, one more. This was taken 12Aug22 behind the Basilica of San Bernardino in L’Aquila in Italy’s Abruzzo region.
