Tonight’s Supermoon: what time is the supermoon, what is a Sturgeon moon and what does it mean?
and live on Freeview channel 276
A full moon is a majestic sight that everyone should have the opportunity to bask in at some point in their lives - so why not tonight?
People across the country will have one last chance this calendar year to see the August supermoon.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt has been illuminating the sky over the course of this week, with people flocking to nearby beaches and scenic open-air views to catch a glimpse.
The full moon is also referred to as a Sturgeon supermoon, but what is the meaning behind this? Here is everything you need to know.
What is a Supermoon?
A supermoon occurs when the Moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the Moon is full. So what’s so special about a supermoon?
- The Moon orbits Earth in an ellipse, an oval that brings it closer to and farther from Earth as it goes around
- The farthest point in this ellipse is called the ‘apogee’ and is about 253,000 miles from Earth on average
- Its closest point is the perigee, which is an average distance of about 226,000 miles from Earth
- When a full moon appears at perigee it is slightly brighter and larger than a regular full moon – and that’s where we get a supermoon
Why is it called a Sturgeon supermoon?
The sturgeon moon is actually named after the sturgeon fish which were commonly caught at this time of the year in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad