How rare is a blue moon over the Texas sky? We’re about to see one this month
This year, August will have two full moons. The sturgeon moon reaches its peak on Aug. 1, and the blue moon on Aug. 30, 2023—it will be the closest supermoon of the year.
The first full supermoon of 2023 appeared on July 3, and the final supermoon this year will occur on Sept. 29. Here’s what to know about the two full supermoons you’ll see in August.
Sturgeon Moon
August’s first full moon will appear on the afternoon of Aug. 1, reaching peak illumination at 1:32 P.M. Central Standard Time, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. After sunset, look toward the southeast to catch a glimpse of the sturgeon moon rising.
This is the second supermoon of four supermoons in a row this year. A supermoon is when the full moon happens at or very close to the exact time when the noon is closest to us in its orbit. Its disk size is larger than an average-sized moon by up to 8% and it’s about 16% brighter.
In 2024, we will likewise have four full supermoons in a row on Aug. 19, Sept. 18, Oct. 17 and Nov. 15.
Blue Moon
The term “blue moon” is used when there are two full moons in a single month, and are not actually blue in color. Most months will see only one, hence the phrase “once in a blue moon.” It occurs about once every 3 years on average, with last blue moon on Aug. 22, 2021.
On Aug. 30, the monthly blue moon will peak at 8:36 P.M. This will be the closest, biggest and brightest full supermoon of 2023, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It will be 222,043 miles from Earth. The next time we’ll have a closer full supermoon is Nov. 5, 2025.
The next monthly blue moon is not until May 31, 2026, according to EarthSky. The next blue moon will be a seasonal blue moon, meaning the third of four full moons in one astronomical season, occurring on Aug. 24, 2024, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
