News

Apr 06, 2024

Supermoon August 2023: Plenty to see in Bucks County night sky

Get ready, sky watchers: A rare super blue moon will appear later this month. The last super blue moon was in December 2009. After the super blue moon of August, you'll need to set a reminder on your

Get ready, sky watchers: A rare super blue moon will appear later this month.

The last super blue moon was in December 2009. After the super blue moon of August, you'll need to set a reminder on your calendar for the next one — August 2032, a full nine years from now.

Keen-eyed observers will have noticed the sturgeon supermoon, which reached its peak illumination at 2:32 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The sturgeon moon was named for the large fish in the Great Lakes, which were most easily caught at this time of the year.

But supermoons aren't all that's to see in the night sky this month. See what else is visible when you look up:

When the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual, the cosmic combo is called a supermoon.

When this happens, the moon can appear slightly bigger and brighter than normal.

"Different publications use slightly different thresholds for deciding when a full moon is close enough to the Earth to qualify as a supermoon," NASA said. "Because the orbit of the moon is not a perfect circle, the moon is sometimes closer to the Earth than at other times during its orbit."

On average, supermoons appear about 7% bigger and about 15% brighter than a typical full moon.

On Aug. 30 to 31, a blue full moon will appear and reach its peak illumination at 9:36 p.m. EDT.

When someone uses the term "once in a blue moon," you know they are talking about a rare event. (The color of the moon really isn't blue, of course. A blue moon still has the same appearance as a typical monthly full moon.)

Actually, a blue moon is unique because it's the fifth full moon of the season, or the "extra" moon. Normally, this occurs only every 2½ years. The second full moon in a month also has been known as a "blue moon" since the 1940s. Typically, this also only occurs once every 2½ years.

After the August super blue moon, the next time the moon will be this close to Earth will be on Nov. 5, 2025, when the moon will be "only" 221,817 miles from Earth.

For those who love meteor showers, you'll be in luck between Aug. 12 and 13. This is when the Perseids meteor shower peaks, an annual occurrence in mid-August. The Perseids are active from July 14 to Sept. 1.

The shower’s activity peaks around midnight Aug. 12 until dawn on Aug. 13. Considered the best meteor shower of the year "with swift and bright meteors" and occur with warm summer nighttime weather, according to NASA.

"Perseids frequently leave long "wakes" of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere," according to NASA. "The Perseids are one of the most plentiful showers with about 50 to 100 meteors seen per hour."

Perseids are also known for their fireballs, which are larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak.

NASA says these are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the predawn hours, though at times it is possible to view meteors from this shower as early as 10 p.m.

Overnight from Aug. 26 to 27, Saturn will be visible during its closest approach to Earth, known as opposition.

Around this date, the ringed planet will be the brightest it will get all year as it will be illuminated by the sun and visible from dusk to dawn.

"Experienced observers will look for the Seeliger effect, a brightening of the rings at opposition when the shadows of ring fragments are hidden from view as the illuminating Sun stands directly behind us," according to astronomy.com. "Observe the rings over a few nights around the 27th to see whether you notice the effect. You might also record Saturn photographically to create a permanent record."

Experts advise using a medium or large telescope to see Saturn and its moons up close.

Star and Meteor Watch will host an event on Saturday, Aug. 12 at dark at the Tohickon Boat Launch parking lot in Nockamixon State Park. Bring a blanket or a chair.

Pre-Star Watch activities will start at sunset, around 8 p.m., with stargazing beginning around 8:30 p.m.

"The astronomers from Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association will have telescopes available to look through and will be on hand to answer questions. Dress warmly, wear bug spray, and bring binoculars or your own telescopes if you have them," an online post reads. "We ask that you leave your pets at home for the safety and comfort of other participants and to prevent potential damage to delicate equipment. Thanks, and hope to see you there!"

Rain date is Wednesday Aug. 16.