August's full moon, which is coming Monday, August 19, has several names. It's a supermoon, a blue moon and the sturgeon moon. So what do they all mean?
The "super" part refers to the moon's orbit, which brings it slightly closer to Earth this month, upping its size and brightness. "Blue," in this case, means it's the third of four full moons this season, which is an unusual occurrence. As for "sturgeon," that refers to the Native American name for August's full moon.
Seasonal blue moons are rare enough. The next one won't happen until May 2027. But how rare is a super/blue combination?
Well, a blue moon happens once every two or three years on average, writesNASA, but a blue moon that's also a supermoon is even more uncommon. The time between super blue moons can be as much as 20 years ― but in general, 10 years is the average.
The next super blue moon pairing will be January and March 2037, according to NASA.
What is a supermoon?
When the moon’s orbit brings it closer to Earth than usual, this cosmic combo is called a supermoon. A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full. The term was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.
"Different publications use slightly different thresholds for deciding when a full moon is close enough to the Earth to qualify as a supermoon," NASA said. "Because the orbit of the moon is not a perfect circle, the moon is sometimes closer to the Earth than at other times during its orbit."
Supermoons happen three to four times a year. About 25% of all full moons are supermoons, but only 3% of full moons are blue moons.
What is a blue moon?
There are two types of blue moons: seasonal and monthly. August 2024's full moon will be of the seasonal variety.
Normally there are three full moons during an astronomical season — the period of time between thesolsticeand theequinox, or vice versa —writes NASA. But when there are four full moons in a single season (on this occasion, summer), the third of the four is considered a blue moon.
Monthly blue moons happen roughly every 2-3 years. The term refers to the second full moon in a single calendar month.
Will the moon actually turn blue?
Monday's full moon is unlikely to appear blue, however: Blue-colored moons in photos are usually made using special blue camera filters or photo editing apps.
The moon has turned shades of blue in the past, writes NASA, but it's an extremely rare event. When it does happen, experts say it's because of water particles hurled into the atmosphere often by natural catastrophes. Ash from avolcanic explosion in 1883caused the moon to appear blue for years.
The first recorded use of the term "Blue Moon" in English dates from 1528.
Why call it Sturgeon Moon?
The naming of moons was a way for Native Americans to track the seasons and plan their activities."August's full moon was traditionally called the sturgeon moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer," writes the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Sturgeon fish were once found in great abundance, but their populations have declined greatly due to overfishing and habitat loss, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
Other names for August's full moon from Native American tribes include the Black Cherries Moon, Corn Moon, and Mountain Shadows Moon.
The moon's phases in August 2024 are:
- 🌑New Moon: Aug. 4.
- 🌓First Quarter: Aug. 12.
- 🌕Full Moon: Aug. 19.
- 🌗Last Quarter: Aug. 26.
Astronomical events happening in August 2024, per NASA
If you plan on observing the night sky this month, according toNASA's skywatching tips, keep the following dates in mind for August 2024:
- August– ThePerseid meteor showerpeaked Aug. 11 but continues into September. Provided you have clear skies, viewing conditions will be favorable this year, as the moon sets by around 11:30 p.m. local time. Meteor activity picks up from then until dawn.
- August 19–Full moon.
- August 20– The Moon chasesSaturnacross the sky tonight. The pair rise in the east shortly after dark, and trek toward the west together until dawn.
- August 27– This morning the crescent moon joins Mars and Jupiter to form a captivating trio. Look for them in the east in the hour or so before sunrise.
- All month– You can use binoculars or a telescope to observe the Lagoon Nebula in the first few hours after dark. It's located in the constellation Sagittarius near the star pattern known as "The Teapot." Similar in size and brightness to the Orion Nebula, it's a cauldron of star formation located about 4,000 light years away.
Full moons in 2024:Here's the date every full moon shines
John Tuftscovers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip atJTufts@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter atJTuftsReports.
