Supermoon: When can you see the August 2023 Super Moons?
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ugust is set to have two full supermoons, and one of these will be the famous Blue Moon.
The supermoon phenomenon will occur on August 1 and August 31, with Earth’s satellite appearing 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter compared with when the Moon is furthest away.
Royal Museums Greenwich states: “So long as there’s not too much cloud, the full Moon will be an unmistakable white orb in the sky.
“This is a good opportunity to use a small telescope or a pair of binoculars to see the Moon’s detailed surface, or even try taking a few interesting moon photos.”
It is also possible to see the Moon in its full glory in plain sight. Take a look at our list of where to see the supermoon for more info, and you can find the list of dates below.
August will see two supermoons.
/ PAWhat is a supermoon and are there any more in 2023?
The supermoon is a combination of a lunar perigee — when the Moon is at its closest to Earth — and a full moon.
This is why it appears to be so large and bright in the sky, and why it can be spotted so close to the horizon.
The Royal Museums Greenwich adds: “Seeing moonrise just after sunset or moonset just before sunrise will be an impressive sight as it will appear enormous compared to the surrounding landscape.
“This is due to an optical illusion. During moonrise, the Moon looks bigger than it is because our brain doesn’t understand that the sky is a dome. It falsely projects things near the horizon to appear larger than they actually are.”
Full moons occur every 29.5 days, when the Moon has completed its lunar phase cycle fully.
Each moon is given a different name.
The August 1 event will be called the Sturgeon Moon, as there’s an increased amount of sturgeon fish during this month and Native Americans would catch them at this time. It has nothing to do with Nicola Sturgeon, despite how often she has been in the news of late.
The August 31 moon will be called a Blue Moon — and is on a cycle that only comes around every three or so years, hence the expression “once in a blue moon”.
Other 2023 supermoons
The other full moons in 2023 will be:
The reason for moons being given different names dates back thousands of years and relates to the behaviour of the plants, animals, or weather that month. They have generally been attributed to names chosen by Native American tribes.
