Media Credits : Tribune India
If you love the wonders of the night sky, I have amazing news for you because the skies of Australia will be beautified by some awe-inspiring celestial events which include rare blue moons and dazzling supermoons, and the Perseid meteor shower. We will be discovering the beauty and importance of these cosmic events and how the process of witnessing them in this article.
Media Credits : Secret Dallas
A supermoon is a full moon that occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit and this makes the moon appear larger and brighter than the normal routine in the sky and the term supermoon is not an official astronomical term but is a popular name given by the media and the public.
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But based on some definitions we can say that a supermoon is a full moon that is within 10% of its perigee distance and according to this criterion, there will be four supermoons in 2023 on Jan 2, Feb 1, July 31 and Aug 30.
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A blue moon is not blue in color and it is just a name given to the second full moon in a calendar month and this happens because the lunar cycle is about 29 and a half days and we know most months have 30 or 31 days. So every two or three years, there is an extra full moon in a month which is a rare occurrence and the next blue moon will happen on 30 Aug 2023.
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The first full moon of August 2023 will be a supermoon because it will occur near its perigee and it will also be known as the Sturgeon Moon which is a name derived from Native American traditions that associated this moon with the peak season of sturgeon fishing. The Sturgeon Moon will be visible on 1 Aug 2023 at 10:28 pm AEST and it also has different names and meanings in different cultures which include the Grain Moon, the Green Corn Moon or the Raksha Bandhan Moon.
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The second full moon of Aug 2023 will be a spectacular sight because it will be both a blue moon and a supermoon and it will be the brightest full moon of the year which can be seen on 30 Aug at 9:36 am AEST. The blue supermoon will be best seen on the night before or after because it will occur during daylight hours in Australia and this will be a great opportunity for stargazing enthusiasts to observe and photograph this rare celestial event.
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Another celestial spectacle that will grace the skies of Australia this year is the Perseid meteor shower which is an annual meteor shower that occurs when Earth passes through the debris trail left by comet Swift Tuttle and the peak nights of the Perseid meteor shower in 2023 will be on Aug 12 and 13. Only about 10 to 20 meteors per hour may be visible from southern latitudes because Perseus is not very high in the sky from the perspective of Australia.
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You need to know where and when to look to watch these celestial events in Australia. Find a clear horizon and an unobstructed view of the sky for the supermoons and blue moons and best time to observe them is around moonrise or moonset because they appear larger because of an optical illusion that time. Look for a dark location away from city lights and pollution for the Perseid meteor shower and the best time to watch them is after midnight to dawn and you need to allow your eyes to adapt to the darkness for at least 15 minutes.
Media Credits : NJ.com
The year 2023 will offer some amazing opportunities to connect with the universe and witness its beauty by showing us these moons and the Perseid meteor shower as a celestial show in the skies of Australia. You should not miss this chance to explore and discover these celestial events and should mark your calendars to be amazed by these astronomical wonders.
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