Be sure to mark your calendars for July 3rd – a display of moonlight like no other is about to take the night sky by storm. Referred to as a “supermoon”, this full lunar event will be brighter and bigger than any other seen this year.
Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, describes the phenomenon: “A supermoon is when the moon appears a little bit bigger in our sky. As the moon goes around the Earth, it’s not a perfect circle – so there are points in its orbit where it’s a little bit closer or farther from the Earth.”
If local weather conditions cooperate, you can experience this celestial event firsthand by looking to the southeast after sundown. At 7:39a.m ET, the full moon will reach peak illumination below the horizon – so make sure to look up for an impressive show that will only appear these few weeks this year!
This month is special for stargazers – The Old Farmer’s Almanac has reported that June’s full moon will be a supermoon! This phenomenon occurs when the orb reaches its fullest moon phase in its path to Earth, making it appear slightly larger than the average full-moon. Although this difference may not necessarily be noticeable to the naked eye, according to the Almanac, the first full moon of summer will be significantly more luminous and 224, 895.4 miles (361, 934 km) from Earth.
To top off this celestial event, July’s full moon is also known as the Buck Moon, named after male deer’s antlers which are typically growing during this time of the year. Various Native American tribes also refer to this month’s moon in different terms – Hot Moon referencing the warm weather of summer, Raspberry Moon or Ripe Corn Moon describing the best times for harvesting fruit and other crops.
Be sure to keep your eyes on the sky – don’t miss out on June’s unique and mesmerizing supermoon!
In 2023, there will be thirteen full moons rather than the usual twelve, with two of them being supermoons and one of them a blue moon. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the closest of these supermoons will occur in August, while the fourth and final takes place on September 29th. This is a rare opportunity for those looking to witness something extraordinary in our night sky. Don’t miss out!
Here are the full moons remaining in 2023 according to reports:
● 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
