Tonight, August 30th, 2023, a stunning full Sturgeon Moon will grace skies worldwide, reaching peak illumination at 9:36 PM EDT (0136 UTC on August 31st). This marks the last supermoon of the year,appearing slightly larger and brighter than usual due to its proximity to Earth in its elliptical orbit.
To find the exact moonrise time for your location, visit Time and Date‘s moonrise calculator. While the full moon is lovely to the naked eye,enhancing your viewing experience with binoculars or a telescope will reveal intricate details of the lunar landscape, such as craters and maria.
The name “Sturgeon Moon” originates from the Algonquin tribes of the Great Lakes region, where sturgeon were readily harvested during August. The Anishinaabeg people traditionally referred to this full moon as the Wild Rice moon, coinciding with the ripening of wild rice. Other North American Indigenous groups recognized it as the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon,signifying the harvest season. NASA also acknowledges these ancient names, noting its connection to agricultural cycles.
This August full moon occurs when the Moon is approximately 226,126 miles (363,900 kilometers) from Earth, making it a supermoon. The next full moon, the Corn Moon, will occur on September 8th. However, a particularly extraordinary event will be visible from parts of Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Ocean: a total lunar eclipse. During this eclipse, lasting 82 minutes, the Moon will pass through earth’s umbra, causing it to take on a reddish hue – frequently enough called a “blood moon.” This coloration is due to the scattering of sunlight through earth’s atmosphere. Unfortunately, observers in North America will not experience the eclipse, seeing only a standard full moon rise.
The August 30th Sturgeon Moon is a particularly good opportunity for astrophotography, with clear skies predicted for many locations. Experienced astrophotographers often use techniques like stacking multiple images to reduce noise and enhance detail. The moon’s brightness can also create challenges for capturing faint deep-sky objects, so planning your observing session accordingly is key.
