A supermoon rises behind the Washington Monument, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Washington. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
The next full moon is and is a marginal supermoon called the Sturgeon Moon. Its also called the Green Corn Moon, the Raksha Bandhan Festival Moon, Nikini Poya, completion of the Esala Perahera Festival, and the Tu BAv Holiday Moon.
The next moon will be Thursday night, August 11, 2022, appearing opposite of the Sun in Earth-based longitude at 9:36 p.m. EDT (6:36 p.m. PDT). This will be on Friday early morning for the time zones east of Cape Verde time, that includes Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the time zone utilized by the majority of business calendars. The Moon will appear complete for about 3 days from Wednesday morning through Saturday early morning. The world Saturn will appear near the Moon. Saturn will be near its brightest for the year, which will occur just a few days later.
One Moon, Many Names
A few of the most commonly known and used names for full moons originate from the Maine Farmers Almanac, which started publishing Native American names for the moons in the 1930s. According to this almanac, the Algonquin people in what is now the northeastern United States called the moon in August the Sturgeon Moon after the large fish that were more quickly captured this time of year in the Great Lakes and other significant bodies of water. This Moon was also known as the Green Corn Moon.
This moon corresponds with the Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan, commemorating the bond between brothers and sisters. One of the customs is for sisters of any ages to tie a rakhi (a cotton bracelet) around their bros wrist, receiving a present from the bro in return, as an indication of the continuing bond between them. The term “Raksha Bandhan” translates as “the bond of security, care, or commitment.”
In Sri Lanka, every complete moon is a vacation. This complete moon is called Nikini Poya, honoring the very first Buddhist council that happened about 2,400 years ago, sometime around 400 BCE. In Kandy, Sri Lanka, this complete moon refers completion of the Esala Perahera celebration, also called the Festival of the Tooth. It is a two-week Buddhist festival held each year.
The Sturgeon Supermoon
Some publications consider this to be a supermoon, as it is the 3rd closest complete moon of the year. The term “supermoon” was created by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 as either a complete or brand-new moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90% of perigee, its closest technique to Earth. Because we cant see new supermoons (other than when the Moon passes in front of the Sun and causes an eclipse), what has captured the general publics attention are full supermoons, as these are the most significant and brightest moons of the year. Since perigee differs with each orbit, various publications use various standards for choosing which complete moons certify. The moons in June and July were closer.
The Moon and Calendars
In many traditional lunisolar and lunar calendars, complete moons fall in the middle of the lunar months. This complete moon is in the middle of the seventh month of the Chinese calendar and Av in the Hebrew calendar, corresponding with Tu BAv, a holiday in contemporary Israel similar to Valentines Day.
For Science Fiction fans, a note on the author Theodore Sturgeon (in honor of the Sturgeon Moon). According to Wikipedia, Theodore Sturgeon edited 200 stories, primarily science fiction but some mystery and scary stories. For Star Trek fans, his scripts introduced important concepts into the series, although just two of his scripts were produced. His Star Trek scripts introduced “pon far,” the Vulcan hand sign, the phrase “live long and succeed,” and (in a script that was not produced however that affected later on scripts) the “Prime Directive.”
As normal, the using of appropriately celebratory celestial attire is motivated in honor of the full moon. In addition, keep in touch with your brother or sisters, avoid starting any wars, and consider checking out some Theodore Sturgeon.
The full moon over Santa Clarita, California, on July 13, 2022. Credit: NASA/Kevin Gill
Here is a summary of celestial events between now and the full moon after next (with times and angles based upon the location of NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.):.
As summertime continues the day-to-day durations of sunshine continue to shorten. On Wednesday, August 11, 2022, the day of the moon, early morning twilight will begin at 5:14 a.m. EDT, sunrise will be at 6:18 a.m., solar noon will be at 1:13:20 p.m. when the Sun will reach its optimum altitude of 66.24 degrees, sundown will be at 8:08 p.m., and evening golden will end at 9:11 p.m. By Saturday, September 10, the day of the moon after next, early morning twilight will begin at 5:46 a.m., dawn will be at 6:45 AM, solar twelve noon will be at 1:05:11 p.m. when the Sun will reach its optimum altitude of 55.88 degrees, sundown will be at 7:24 p.m., and night golden will end at 8:23 p.m.
Perseids vs the Moon.
According to the International Meteor Organization, the Perseid meteor shower is anticipated to peak late Friday night into early Saturday morning, August 12 to 13, 2022. The Perseids can be one of the significant meteor showers of the year, in 2022 the nearly full moon will make it challenging to see these meteors. You will require to look toward the north away from the light of the Moon.
Evening Sky Highlights.
On the night of Thursday, August 11, 2022, the day of the full moon, as night twilight ends at 9:11 p.m. EDT, the rising Moon will appear 7 degrees above the east-southeastern horizon with the world Saturn 6 degrees to the upper left of the Moon. The planet Mercury will have commenced 4 minutes prior to but may be visible in the glow of dusk before it sets. The bright star appearing closest to directly overhead will be Vega at 76 degrees above the eastern horizon. Vega is the 5th brightest star in our night sky, about 25 light-years from Earth, two times the mass of, and 40 times brighter than our Sun.
As the lunar cycle progresses, Saturn and the background of stars will appear to shift westward each evening as Earth walks around the Sun. Saturn will be at its closest and brightest for the year on August 14, increasing around sundown and setting around dawn. Through much of August the planet Mercury will set just a few minutes before night twilight ends however will be moving to the left along the horizon farther from the Sun. This increases the opportunity Mercury will be visible in the glow of dusk. Toward the end of August Mercury will stop moving away from the Sun, as it will reach its biggest separation from the Sun for this apparition on August 27, and will start setting earlier each evening, making it harder to see. The waxing moon will pass near Mercury on August 29, the intense star Spica on August 30, the bright star Antares on September 3, and Saturn on September 7 and 8. Starting around September 5, the intense world Jupiter will start appearing above the eastern horizon as evening twilight ends, joining Saturn in the evening sky.
By the night of Saturday, September 10, the day of the full moon after next, as evening twilight ends at 8:23 p.m. EDT, the rising Moon will appear 4 degrees above the eastern horizon. Jupiter will appear to the left of the Moon less than 3 degrees above the eastern horizon.
Morning Sky Highlights.
On the early morning of Thursday, August 11, 2022, the day of the moon, as morning twilight starts at 5:14 a.m. EDT, 4 of the five visible worlds will appear spread out throughout the sky, with Saturn at 14 degrees above the southwestern horizon, Jupiter at 51 degrees above the south-southwestern horizon, Mars at 55 degrees above the east-southeastern horizon, and Venus at 5 degrees above the east-northeastern horizon. The full moon will be setting on the west-southwestern horizon listed below Saturn. The bright celestial item appearing closest to overhead will be the world Mars.
As the lunar cycle advances, the background of stars along with Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars will appear to shift westward each morning, although Mars will appear to move more gradually. Venus will appear to shift the opposite way, closer to the eastern horizon each morning. The Perseid meteor shower will peak on the morning of Aug, 13, but the light of the nearly moon will hinder seeing these meteors this year (specifically with the added light pollution in more city environments). Saturn will be at its closest and brightest for the year on August 14, rising around sundown and setting around daybreak. The waning moon will pass near Saturn on August 12, the intense world Jupiter on August 15, Mars and the Pleiades star cluster on Aug/ 19, the intense star Aldebaran on August 20, the bright star Pollux on August 23 and 24, and the brilliant world Venus on August 25 and 26. August 26 will be the last early morning that Saturn will be above the west-southwestern horizon (as morning golden begins) and September 6 will be the last early morning that Venus will be above the east-northeastern horizon.
By the morning of Saturday, September 10, the day of the full moon after next, as early morning twilight starts at 5:46 a.m. EDT, just 2 of the 5 noticeable worlds will appear in the sky, with Jupiter at 29 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon and Mars at 70 degrees above the south-southeastern horizon near the intense star Aldebaran. The full moon will be 10 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon listed below the world Jupiter.
Comprehensive Daily Guide.
Here is a more detailed, day-by-day listing of celestial occasions in between now and the moon after next. The times and angles are based on the area of NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., so a few of these details might vary for your location.
August 6-7.
Saturday early morning, August 6, 2022, low on the east-northeastern horizon, the intense star Pollux will appear 6.5 degrees to the upper left of the brilliant planet, Venus. Venus will increase (at 4:32 a.m. EDT) about a half-hour before morning golden starts and will be 6 degrees above the east-northeastern horizon as twilight begins at 5:09 a.m. Venus will be shifting closer to the horizon each early morning, while Pollux is shifting greater, and this will be the early morning when the set will appear at their closest.
Saturday night into early Sunday early morning, August 6 to 7, 2022, the bright star Antares will appear about 6 degrees to the left of the waxing gibbous moon. As evening twilight ends at 9:18 p.m. EDT, the Moon will appear 26 degrees above the south-southwestern horizon. The Moon will set below the west-southwestern horizon about 4 hours later at 1:04 a.m. on Sunday.
August 10.
Wednesday afternoon, August 10, 2022, at 1:10 p.m. EDT, the Moon will be at perigee, its closest to Earth for this orbit.
August 11: The Full Sturgeon Supermoon.
As mentioned above, the next full moon will be Thursday night, August 11, 2022, at 9:36 p.m. EDT. The Moon will appear full for about three days from Wednesday early morning through Saturday early morning.
The world Saturn, almost at its brightest for the year, will appear above the Moon Thursday night into Friday morning, August 11 to 12, 2022, shifting from the upper left to the upper right as the night advances.
August 12-13: Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks.
The Perseid meteor shower is anticipated to peak late Friday night into early Saturday morning, August 12 to 13, 2022. Moonlight will make it hard to see these meteors this year. The finest time needs to be after midnight on Saturday morning if you do choose to look for these meteors. You will need to be far from the city or other lights in a location without any clouds or haze and have a clear view of a big stretch of sky. You will need to look northward far from the radiance of the Moon.
August 14.
Midday on Sunday, August 14, 2022, the world Saturn will be opposite Earth from the Sun (called “opposition”), successfully a “complete” Saturn. Saturn will be at its closest to Earth for the year, appearing at its brightest.
On Sunday night into Monday early morning, August 14 to 15, 2022, Jupiter will appear to the left of the subsiding gibbous moon. The pair will increase above the eastern horizon at 9:58 p.m. EDT with Jupiter about 6 degrees to the left of the Moon. The Moon will reach its greatest in the sky for the night Monday morning at 4:02 a.m. with Jupiter about 4 degrees above the Moon, and early morning twilight will start a little more than an hour later on at 5:19 a.m.
August 17.
On Wednesday early morning, August 17, 2022, with field glasses or a small telescope. you might be able to see the Beehive star cluster to the left of Venus. Venus will appear about 4 degrees above the east-northeastern horizon as early morning golden begins at 5:21 a.m. EDT.
August 19.
Friday early morning, August 19, 2022, the half-full waning moon will appear near Mars and the Pleiades star cluster. Mars will be the last to rise above the east-northeastern horizon at 12:02 a.m. EDT, appearing listed below the Moon, with the Pleiades to the left of the Moon. The Moon will reach its last quarter at 12:36 a.m. By the time morning golden begins at 5:23 a.m., the Moon will appear nearly between Mars and the Pleiades, with the Pleiades to the upper left and Mars to the lower right. Mars and the Pleiades will appear at their closest the next morning, Saturday, August 20, about 6 degrees apart.
August 20.
Saturday morning, August 20, 2022, the intense star Aldebaran will appear about 8 degrees to the lower right of the waning crescent moon. The Moon will increase first, then Aldebaran will increase above the east-northeastern horizon at 12:52 a.m. EDT. Early morning golden will start about 4.5 hours later on at 5:24 a.m.
August 22.
Monday, August 22, 2022, at 5:53 p.m. EDT, the Moon will be at apogee, its farthest from Earth for this orbit.
August 23.
Tuesday morning, August 23, 2022, the bright star Pollux will appear about 8 degrees to the lower left of the waning crescent moon. The Moon will increase first, then Pollux will increase above the northeastern horizon at 3:03 a.m. EDT, more than two hours before early morning twilight begins at 5:28 a.m.
August 24.
By Wednesday morning, August 24, 2022, the Moon will appear below the bright star Pollux. When the Moon rises above the east-northeastern horizon at 3:29 a.m. EDT it will sign up with Pollux. Early morning twilight will start about 2 hours later at 5:29 a.m.
August 25.
Thursday early morning, August 25, 2022, the brilliant world Venus will appear about 8 degrees below the thin, subsiding crescent moon. The Moon will increase initially, then Venus will sign up with the Moon when it increases above the east-northeastern horizon at 5:12 a.m. EDT. Early morning twilight will start about 18 minutes later at 5:30 a.m.
August 26.
Friday morning, August 26, 2022, you might be able to see the thin, waning crescent moon about 7 degrees to the lower left of Venus. The Moon will rise to sign up with Venus above the east-northeastern horizon right around the time morning twilight starts at 5:31 a.m. EDT.
August 27: New Moon.
Saturday early morning, August 27, 2022, at 4:17 a.m. EDT, will be the brand-new moon, when the Moon passes in between Earth and the Sun and will not show up from Earth.
Midday on Saturday will be when the planet Mercury reaches its biggest angular separation from the Sun as seen from Earth for this apparition (called greatest elongation), appearing half-lit through a large sufficient telescope. Due to the fact that the angle of the line in between the Sun and Mercury and the horizon modifications with the seasons, when Mercury and the Sun appear farthest apart as seen from Earth is not the like when Mercury is easiest to spot in the glow of dusk quickly before night golden ends.
The day of or the day after the brand-new moon marks the start of the new month for most lunisolar and lunar calendars. The eighth month of the Chinese calendar starts on Saturday, August 27, (at midnight in Chinas time zone, which is 12 hours ahead of EDT). In the Islamic calendar, the months traditionally start with the very first sighting of the waxing crescent moon.
August 29.
For about 20 minutes on Monday evening, August 29, 2022, you may be able to see Mercury listed below the thin, waxing crescent moon. Attempt looking on the western horizon more than 30 minutes after sunset after 8:13 p.m. EDT however before Mercury sets at 8:35 p.m. The radiance of sunset will make it difficult to see the pair without binoculars or a telescope, as Mercury will set about 8 minutes before night twilight ends at 8:43 p.m.
August 30.
On Tuesday night, August 30, 2022, the bright star Spica will appear about 5 degrees to the left of the thin, waxing crescent moon. The Moon will appear 9 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon as evening twilight ends at 8:41 p.m. EDT, and Spica will set very first about 40 minutes later on at 9:23 p.m.
September 3.
On Saturday afternoon, September 3, 2022, the Moon will appear half-full as it reaches its first quarter at 2:08 p.m. EDT (when we can not see it from the Washington, D.C. location).
On Saturday evening, the bright star Antares will appear about 6 degrees to the lower right of the half moon. The Moon will be 22 degrees above the south-southwestern horizon as night twilight ends at 8:35 p.m. EDT, and Antares will set first on the southwestern horizon less than 3 hours later at 11:14 p.m.
September 6-8.
Late Tuesday night into Wednesday early morning, September 6 to 7, 2022, will be when Mars and the intense star Aldebaran appear near each other, a little bit more than 4 degrees apart. Mars will increase initially, with Aldebaran rising above the east-northeastern horizon near midnight at 11:45 p.m. EDT. Mars will be 69 degrees above the southeastern horizon as early morning golden starts on Wednesday early morning at 5:43 a.m.
Wednesday afternoon at 2:19 p.m. EDT, the Moon will be at perigee, its closest to Earth for this orbit.
On Wednesday night into Thursday morning, September 7 to 8, 2022, Saturn will appear above the waxing gibbous Moon. Saturn will have to do with 9 degrees to the upper left of the Moon as night twilight ends (Wednesday at 8:28 p.m. EDT). The Moon will reach its highest in the sky for the night less than 3 hours later on at 11:13 p.m. By the time the Moon sets below the west-southwestern horizon about 5 hours later (Thursday at 4:14 a.m.), Saturn will appear about 6 degrees to the upper right of the Moon.
September 10: The Full Moon After Next.
The complete moon after next will be on Saturday early morning, September 10, 2022, at 5:59 a.m. EDT. The Moon will appear full for about 3 days from Thursday night to Sunday morning.
According to this almanac, the Algonquin people in what is now the northeastern United States called the complete moon in August the Sturgeon Moon after the big fish that were more easily caught this time of year in the Great Lakes and other significant bodies of water. On the evening of Thursday, August 11, 2022, the day of the full moon, as night golden ends at 9:11 p.m. EDT, the increasing Moon will appear 7 degrees above the east-southeastern horizon with the planet Saturn 6 degrees to the upper left of the Moon. The Moon will reach its greatest in the sky for the night Monday early morning at 4:02 a.m. with Jupiter about 4 degrees above the Moon, and early morning twilight will begin a bit more than an hour later on at 5:19 a.m.
August 17.
The Moon will reach its last quarter at 12:36 a.m. By the time early morning golden starts at 5:23 a.m., the Moon will appear nearly in between Mars and the Pleiades, with the Pleiades to the upper left and Mars to the lower. The Moon will reach its greatest in the sky for the night less than 3 hours later at 11:13 p.m. By the time the Moon sets below the west-southwestern horizon about 5 hours later (Thursday at 4:14 a.m.), Saturn will appear about 6 degrees to the upper right of the Moon.