Sunrise and sunset vie for the most scenic views of the day, but don’t count out the moon views that grace the night sky once in a while, either.
August began with the eighth full moon of the year and the second of four supermoons, a full moon that appears brighter than normal due to being closer to Earth.
If you were bummed about missing the most recent full moon, rest assured knowing there are five more left in 2023, and one of them is coming up soon.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon on Wednesday, Aug. 30, the ninth of the year, will be both a supermoon and blue moon.
What makes a supermoon unique?
There will be four supermoons in 2023, according to EarthSky.org.
The first supermoon came back on July 3, the second was on Aug. 1, and the next two will come on Wednesday, Aug. 30 and Friday, Sept. 29.
“A supermoon exceeds the disk size of an average-sized Moon by up to 8% and the brightness of an average-sized full Moon by some 16%,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. “You may not perceive the difference in size, but a supermoon will appear brighter in the sky.”
What makes a ‘blue moon’ unique?
Despite the name, blue moons are not blue in color. Blue moons are the second full moon of a month or the fifth full moon of a season.
No other month this year will have two full moons, so Aug. 30 will be the only blue moon of 2023. It is also the first super blue moon since December 2009.
If you want to catch it, you better mark your calendar to make sure you don’t forget. If you miss it, the next super blue moon will not reappear until August 2032.
When can I the next meteor shower?
For those who love meteor showers, the Perseids meteor shower peaked last weekend, but this annual occurrence remains active til Sept. 1.
“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 also are 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.
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When can I get a glimpse of Saturn?
Overnight from Saturday, Aug. 26 to Sunday, Aug. 27, Saturn will be visible during its closest approach to Earth, known as opposition.
Around this time, 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.
Janet Loehrke, Konner Metz and Anthony DiMattia contributed to this report.
Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys’tal Griffin atkgriffin@delawareonline.com.
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