The Blue Moon of August 2023 will ascend in just one week, providing skywatchers with another supermoon this month.
The Blue Moon will rise on August 30 night. It will be the brightest and largest moon of the year, so it will be easy to identify in the eastern sky shortly after sunset. This moon is significant for several reasons: First, according to NASA, it is not only a full moon, but also a Blue Moon, which is the third full moon in a season with four full moons.
The Blue Moon is the second full moon this month, following the Full Sturgeon Moon, which rose on August 1 and inspired breathtaking astrophotography worldwide.
In addition, this Blue Moon is also a supermoon, which occurs at perigee, the point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth. Consequently, for observers on the ground, it will appear slightly larger than usual, though only 7% larger. Using only the naked eye, this difference in dimensions is probably not discernible.
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Saturn Joins the Celestial Spectacle: A Unique Encounter with the Blue Moon of August 2023
Saturn will accompany the Blue Moon of August 2023 in the heavens as a special guest.
A few days will have passed since the ringed gas giant’s opposition, the point at which it is directly opposite the sun as seen from Earth, rendering it particularly brilliant in the night sky.
Saturn will be visible from New York City in the constellation Aquarius, above and to the right of the moon. However, from the Southern Hemisphere, Saturn will appear beneath the moon.
Every two to three years, according to astronomical standards, a blue moon occurs. The previous Blue Moon occurred in August 2021, and the subsequent is anticipated to occur in August 2024.
If you want a close-up view of the upcoming Blue Moon, our guide to the finest binoculars is a wonderful place to start. And if you want to examine lunar surface features in greater detail, our guide to the finest telescopes can help you locate the appropriate optical equipment.
Check out our guides on how to photograph the moon, as well as our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography, if you’re interested in taking photographs of the moon or the night sky in general.
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Source: Space
