August 19 All day
Get ready for a night to remember! On August 19, 2024, the sky in BC will light up with a dazzling supermoon (weather permitting). 🌕
Supermoon?
A supermoon happens when the full moon is closest to Earth in its orbit, appearing bigger and brighter than ever. This isn’t just any supermoon; it’s also a blue moon, making it a rare and special sight.
This blue moon will make it an extra special evening, as it’s the second full moon in a single calendar month. It’ll shine extraordinarily bright and appear larger in the sky, offering a spectacular night view.
It’s the perfect opportunity for moon lovers to celebrate the natural wonders of the night sky.
Viewing Tips
Look to the east / south east when the moon rises after sunset.
To catch the best view of this luminous moon, head to a spot away from city lights. Hilltops, open fields, or the quiet of a lakeside make for the perfect backdrop to watch this celestial event unfold.
The clearer the horizon, the more you’ll see!
Photographers get your cameras ready! 📸 This is the perfect occasion to snap moon shots. Use a tripod to stabilize your shot and play around with your camera’s settings to capture the glowing details of the moon’s surface.
Even smartphones these days come equipped to take some pretty impressive night sky photos. Give it a shot; you might surprise yourself with what you can capture!
Why is it Called a Sturgeon Moon? 🐟 🌕
The full moon in August is traditionally known as the Sturgeon Moon because of the large number of sturgeon fish that were historically more easily caught during this time in the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water in North America.
This nickname, like other full moon names, originates from Native American tribes who used the moon phases to track the seasons and associate each full moon with specific ecological events or natural phenomena.
This name emphasizes the importance of sturgeon in the diet and culture of the indigenous populations. The sturgeon, a large and ancient fish, was a significant resource, providing substantial nourishment.
The abundance of this fish during the late summer made August’s full moon an indicator of the best time to catch these plentiful, valuable fish.
What is a Blue Moon?
A “blue moon” is when we get an extra full moon in a month or a season.
The most common way people think of it is when there are two full moons in one calendar month.
Normally, we only have one full moon each month because the time it takes for the moon to go from new to full and back is around 29.5 days—just a bit shorter than most months.
Another way to look at a blue moon is when there are four full moons in a season instead of the usual three, with the third one being called a blue moon.
This doesn’t happen very often, roughly once every two to three years. The name “blue moon” has nothing to do with the moon’s color—it doesn’t actually turn blue.
Because it’s pretty rare, people use the phrase “once in a blue moon” to talk about things that don’t happen very often.
Next month, will be another full moon to mark on your calendar — a Bloody Harvest Supermoon.
