Sturgeon Moon: How To See August’s Lunar Event

This month, stargazers will person nan chance to witnesser a peculiarly stunning lunar event. August’s Sturgeon Moon, a striking afloat satellite pinch an orangish colour, will ray up nan skies connected nan dusk of Saturday, August 9. The arena is nan 2nd afloat satellite of summertime successful nan Northern Hemisphere.

The Sturgeon Moon is named aft nan sturgeon fish, a ample type recovered successful nan Great Lakes of North America during nan summertime. Sturgeon food are recovered successful awesome abundance astir nan clip of this lunar event. However, it is besides called nan Grain Moon, nan Corn Moon, nan Lynx Moon, and nan Lightning Moon, particularly successful Europe wherever nan satellite is much associated pinch harvests and different symbols aliases meteorological events.

Though nan satellite will officially move afloat connected Saturday, August 9, it will besides beryllium visible astatine a nearly-full connected nan erstwhile nighttime of Friday, August 8. Stargazers will beryllium champion capable to spot nan spectacular astral arena from an elevated place, free of buildings aliases gangly trees that whitethorn obstruct their vision, and successful an area that has fewer clouds. The satellite can, of course, beryllium appreciated pinch nan naked eye, but binoculars aliases a scope will connection a amended position of nan spectacular satellite lit afloat by nan sun.

To beryllium specific, connected London time, connected Friday, August 8, nan sun will group astatine 8:37 PM and nan satellite will emergence astatine 8:40 PM. On Saturday, August 9, nan sun will group astatine 8:36 PM and nan satellite will emergence astatine 8:58 PM.

The Sturgeon Moon besides coincides pinch different yearly arena successful nan stars, nan Perseid meteor showers. Peak activity for nan showers will beryllium astir August 11 aliases 12, but they will beryllium visible agelong earlier then, including connected August 8 and 9.

Stargazers hoping to spot nan meteor showers won’t person nan champion of luck connected nan nights of nan Sturgeon moon, arsenic nan Perseid showers will apt not beryllium visible because of nan brightness of nan moonrays. Unlike pinch nan Sturgeon Moon, telescopes aliases binoculars are not typically recommended to watch nan Perseid showers, arsenic they whitethorn obstruct your imagination much than they whitethorn thief to see.