Mark your calendars! Australian skies are set to witness a once-a-decade phenomenon
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Members, listen up: you will not want to miss the incredible event in the night sky this month.
On August 31, Australians will be able to witness a rare phenomenon that won't be back for another ten years: the super blue moon!
This event combines two separate occurrences and is technically made up of a blue moon that coincides with a supermoon.
But anyone hoping for a blue-hued moon is sadly going to be disappointed.
The term 'blue moon' does not refer to its colour but rather to the rare occasion when two full moons appear in the same month.
It dates back to old expressions for 'impossible' ideas—imagine an actual blue moon!— and specifically refers to the thirteenth full moon in a year of agricultural calendars with twelve designated full moons.
On the other hand, the term 'supermoon' refers to the full moon that rises after its orbit is closest to the Earth. Photos captured during supermoon full moons reveal a moon about 14% larger and brighter than a regular full moon.
It's a lot more common than a blue moon, occurring several times yearly.
The combination of these two celestial events happens less frequently: only about once every decade. That's why this is an unmissable event—you won't get another chance to view this spectacle until 2029!
The super blue moon will be visible in Australia on the night of August 31—cloud cover permitting, of course—and will peak at about 11:36 AM AEST.
The next blue moon will be in May 2026, while the next super blue moon will be way off in 2029.
As for regular supermoons, the first was on July 3, and the fourth and final one is coming on September 29, as predicted by Farmer's Almanac. The other full moons to watch out for in 2023 are:
You'll have another night of amazing sights later this month when the Perseids meteor shower is set to peak. According to EarthSky, here are the meteor shower predictions for the remainder of this year:
Better mark your calendars and set a reminder on your phones, members! Get your makeshift stargazing snack packs ready, and line up some cosy blankets. The night of August 31 will be something special, and we'd hate for you to miss out.
So, what are your thoughts? Are you looking forward to it? We sure do!
On August 31, Australians will be able to witness a rare phenomenon that won't be back for another ten years: the super blue moon!
This event combines two separate occurrences and is technically made up of a blue moon that coincides with a supermoon.
But anyone hoping for a blue-hued moon is sadly going to be disappointed.
A supermoon, as seen from Phillip Island, VIC. Credit: Facebook/Sally Kirsch.
The term 'blue moon' does not refer to its colour but rather to the rare occasion when two full moons appear in the same month.
It dates back to old expressions for 'impossible' ideas—imagine an actual blue moon!— and specifically refers to the thirteenth full moon in a year of agricultural calendars with twelve designated full moons.
On the other hand, the term 'supermoon' refers to the full moon that rises after its orbit is closest to the Earth. Photos captured during supermoon full moons reveal a moon about 14% larger and brighter than a regular full moon.
It's a lot more common than a blue moon, occurring several times yearly.
The combination of these two celestial events happens less frequently: only about once every decade. That's why this is an unmissable event—you won't get another chance to view this spectacle until 2029!
The super blue moon will be visible in Australia on the night of August 31—cloud cover permitting, of course—and will peak at about 11:36 AM AEST.
The next blue moon will be in May 2026, while the next super blue moon will be way off in 2029.
As for regular supermoons, the first was on July 3, and the fourth and final one is coming on September 29, as predicted by Farmer's Almanac. The other full moons to watch out for in 2023 are:
- August 31: Blue moon
- September 29: Harvest moon
- October 28: Hunter's moon
- November 27: Beaver moon
- December 26: Cold moon
You'll have another night of amazing sights later this month when the Perseids meteor shower is set to peak. According to EarthSky, here are the meteor shower predictions for the remainder of this year:
- August 13: Perseids
- October 9: Draconids
- October 22: Orionids
- November 6: Southern Taurids
- November 13: Northern Taurids
- November 18: Leonids
- December 14: Geminids
- December 23: Ursids
Better mark your calendars and set a reminder on your phones, members! Get your makeshift stargazing snack packs ready, and line up some cosy blankets. The night of August 31 will be something special, and we'd hate for you to miss out.
So, what are your thoughts? Are you looking forward to it? We sure do!
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