2023-07-31 19:19:44
In August, attentive sky watchers can look forward to a particularly astronomical highlight: August brings two super moons. What is behind it and when you can observe the moons.
AUSTRIA. A very special celestial spectacle awaits us in August: two full moons will be visible in the night sky, and both are super moons. A supermoon is a full moon that is particularly close to Earth. On average, it is then 360,000 kilometers away from Earth, so the moon appears ten to 30 percent brighter and five to ten percent larger than a normal full moon. The term super moon comes from the American astrologer Richard Nolle.
According to the Association of Star Friends, both full moons will appear almost the same size if the weather cooperates. The double spectacle is possible because the cycle between two full moons is 29.5 days, but August has 31 days.
Rare natural spectacle once more in 2037
August brings two supermoons: The moon will reach its closest point to the earth in its elliptical orbit around the earth on August 1st around 8:30 in the evening and on August 31st in the morning shortly following 4:30 am. According to the Association of Star Friends, both full moons will appear almost the same size if the weather cooperates. The double spectacle is possible because the cycle between two full moons is 29.5 days, but August has 31 days. This was the case for the last time in 2018. The natural spectacle should not be repeated once more until 2037, as the Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi explained to the British newspaper The Independent.
“Blue Moon”
The super moon seen on August 31 is now commonly referred to as the “Blue Moon”. However, the name has absolutely nothing to do with the color blue. The name “Blue Moon” expresses something very rare. The term “blue moon” was first used in Ireland in the 16th century. At that time, a full moon that occurs twice within a month was called a “blue moon”. That happens regarding every two and a half years. In English, the term “once in a blue moon” has become commonplace for a very rare event. So the supermoon on August 31st is a “once in a blue moon” event.
You can find out whether the weather allows a clear view in the forecast for this week.
A friendly start to the week will be followed by rain and thunderstorms
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