Barrie 
This month’s second full moon, also a supermoon will illuminate the skies tonight. This will be the last super blue moon until 2037.
RDNE Stock project/Pexels
A blue moon is the second full moon occurring within a month, though its colour remains unchanged and unrelated to its name.
This moon is also a rare celestial phenomenon because it is a super blue moon. Like the full moon on August 1st, this month’s second full moon qualifies as a supermoon. This designation is attributed to its proximity to the perigee position, spanning from 356,355 to 370,399 km, encompassing 90% of this definition. Typically, a year hosts 4 to 5 supermoons, with 2023 boasting a total of 4 such events.
On August 30th at 09:35 p.m. (ET), the moon will be 357,344 kilometres from Earth.
During supermoons, the moon will appear only about 14% bigger and 30% brighter (i.e., an increase in the moon’s illuminance by 0.28 magnitude) than when it is at the farthest point. This difference is hardly perceptible to the human eye, so the moon will look pretty much like any other full moon, except that you know it is a supermoon!
August 30th full moon will also be the last super “blue” moon until 2037. i.e. the last supermoon to appear twice in a month. The next super blue moon will be on Jan 31, 2037, following the super moon of Jan 2.
The last supermoon of 2023 will occur on September 29.
- Where to Stargaze in Ontario: Dark Sky Areas and Observatories
- Where to Stargaze in Alberta: Dark Sky Areas and Observatories
- Dark-Sky Preserves in Canada
HOW AND WHEN TO WATCH:
The moon’s illumination will peak on the night of August 30th. However, to the casual stargazer, the moon will appear equally full the night before and after its peak.
To glimpse this spectacular moon, look towards the southeastern sky after sunset on August 30th. The moon will rise after 8:10 pm EDT and set by 7:15 am
EDT (depending on your location) on August 31st.
