The first of four supermoons to rise in 2023, the lunar show in July will look brighter in the night sky than any other full moon event this year.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanack, the full moon will rise on Monday, July 3, and attain peak illumination below the horizon at 7:39 a.m. ET. If the weather permits, gaze to the southeast after the sun has set to see the celestial phenomenon.
“A supermoon is when the moon appears slightly larger in our sky,” explained Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of Michigan State University’s Abrams Planetarium. “The moon’s orbit around the Earth is not a complete circle. As a result, there are points in its orbit where it is somewhat closer or slightly further from the Earth.”
Schmoll noted that when the orb reaches its full moon phase at a point in its course closer to Earth, it looks somewhat larger and a supermoon occurs. While the size difference between a supermoon and a regular full moon may not be seen to the naked eye, The Old Farmer’s Almanack predicts that the first full moon of summer will be brighter and 224,895.4 miles (361,934 km) from Earth.
The moon of this month is also known as the buck moon. According to the almanack, male deer antlers normally sprout around July during an annual cycle of shedding and regrowth.
According to Western Washington University, there are various different Native American names for the buck moon. Hot moon refers to summer weather, whereas raspberry moon and ripe corn moon relate to the optimal periods to harvest fruit and other crops.
Full moons and supermoons
In typical years, there are 12 full moons, but in 2023, there will be 13. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanack, there will be two supermoons in August, including a blue moon, which will be the closest moon to Earth this year. On September 29, 2023, the fourth and last supermoon will rise.
According to the Farmer’s Almanack, the following full moons will occur in 2023:
August 1: Sturgeon moon
● August 30: Blue moon
● September 29: Harvest moon
● October 28: Hunter’s moon
● November 27: Beaver moon
● December 26: Cold moon
Lunar and solar eclipses
On October 14, people across North, Central, and South America will be able to view an annular solar eclipse. The moon will pass between the sun and Earth at or near its furthest point from Earth during the solar eclipse. The moon will be smaller than the sun and will be surrounded by a dazzling halo.
Viewers should use eclipse glasses to protect their eyes.
On October 28, there will also be a partial moon eclipse. Because the sun, Earth, and moon are not perfectly aligned, just a portion of the moon will be under shadow. portions of Europe, Asia, Australia, portions of North America, and much of South Africa will be able to see this partial eclipse.
Meteor showers
Each of the nine remaining meteor showers projected to peak this year will be most visible in regions without light pollution from late evening to morning. The following are the peak dates for the events:
Southern Delta Aquariids: July 30-31
● Alpha Capricornids: July 30-31
● Perseids: August 12-13
● Orionids: October 20-21
● Southern Taurids: November 4-5
● Northern Taurids: November 11-12
● Leonids: November 17-18
● Geminids: December 13-14
● Ursids: December 21-22
