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The August full moon is also a Super Blue Moon

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August 15, 2024

August 2024 full moon lies near Saturn. — The August full moon happens at 18:26 UTC (1:26 p.m. CDT) on August 19. For everyone around the globe, the moon will rise – round and nearly or entirely full – in the east just after sunset that evening. Plus, the August 19 full moon will lie near Saturn. It’s the 1st of 4 full supermoons in a row. And it’s a Blue Moon. Chart via EarthSky.

When to watch in 2024: Overnight of August 19-20.
Where to look: Look for the bright round moon in the east on the evening of August 19, highest in the sky around midnight, and in the west before sunrise on the morning of August 20.
Crest of the full moon falls at 18:26 UTC (1:26 p.m. CDT) on August 19.
It’s a supermoon, the first of four in a row.
It’s a Blue Moon, the third of four full moons in a single season.

All full moons rise along the eastern horizon near sunset, and set along the western horizon near sunrise. So, they are visible all night. At full moon, the sun, Earth and moon are aligned in space, with Earth in the middle. The moon’s day side – its fully lighted hemisphere – directly faces us. That’s why the moon appears full. Also, note that the moon will look full and round the day before and the day after it reaches its fullest.

The full moon lies opposite the sun. — At full moon, the sun, Earth and moon are aligned with Earth in the middle. The moon’s day side – its fully lighted hemisphere – directly faces us.

The August full moon is a supermoon

August 2024 sees lunar perigee – the point in the moon’s orbit where it comes closest to Earth – occur about 36 hours after the crest of the August 19 full moon. Perigee happens at 5 UTC (or 12 a.m. CDT) on August 21.

The time of full moon – and the time of perigee – are so close that Fred Espenak and others list this full moon on their supermoon tables. However, a supermoon doesn’t look bigger to the eye alone. But it does look brighter. And sometimes particularly high tides will follow supermoons by a day or so.

Furthermore, the August 19 supermoon is the first of four supermoons in a row.

The August 2024 full moon is a supermoon. — The 2024 August full moon falls 36 hours before it reaches its closet point to Earth, called perigee. Because the full moon is closer than it is along most other places in its orbit around Earth, it appears brighter in the sky. This makes it a supermoon. Chart via EarthSky.

It’s also a Blue Moon

What is a Blue Moon? First, it can be the second of two full moons in a calendar month. Or it can be the third of four full moons in a single season.

Our last Blue Moon came on August 30-31, 2023. That night, the Blue Moon was near the planet Saturn. And that full moon – like most Blue Moons – was a monthly blue moon.

The Blue Moon on August 19, 2024, is a seasonal blue moon, that’s because it’s the third of four full moons in a season (the time between a solstice and an equinox). By the way – just like last year – the August full supermoon is near Saturn.

It’s the Sturgeon Moon

All the full moons have names. For example, popular names for the August full moon include the Flying Up Moon, Corn Moon and Sturgeon Moon. The name Sturgeon Moon recognizes the August peak of the sturgeon fish catch in the waters of the Great Lakes.

Full Moon near Saturn

In addition, a point of light – Saturn – shines near the full moon this August. The following night, the moon will lie close to Saturn, making Saturn difficult to spot because of the bright moonlight.

August full moon in Capricornus. — The 2024 August full moon falls in the early afternoon on August 19 (at 1:26 p.m. CDT) and lies in the constellation Capricornus. Chart via EarthSky.

Moon on August 20. — On the evening of August 20, the waning gibbous moon will lie close to Saturn. They’ll rise in the east a little after sunset. Chart via EarthSky.

August full moon falls in Capricornus in 2024

The August full moon can lie in front of one of two constellations of the zodiac. The one most often is Capricornus, the Sea-goat, while the other is Aquarius, the Water carrier. As seen from the Americas, the full moon on the night of August 19, 2024, will be located in the direction of central Capricornus. Because of the bright moonlight, the stars in the vicinity of the moon will be difficult to see with the unaided eye.

Bottom line: The full Corn Moon or Sturgeon Moon happens overnight on August 19, 2024. It’s also a full supermoon and will lie near Saturn. Plus, it’s a seasonal Blue Moon. Check it out!

Posted

August 15, 2024

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John Jardine Goss

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About the Author:

“I can sometimes see the moon in the daytime” was a cosmic revelation that John Jardine Goss first discovered through personal observations at age 6. It shook his young concept of the universe and launched his interest in astronomy and stargazing, a fascination he still holds today. John is past president of the Astronomical League, the largest U.S. federation of astronomical societies, with over 24,000 members. He's earned the title of Master Observer and is a regular contributor to the video series, “Global Star Party.” He has authored the celestial observing guides “Exploring the Starry Realm,” and “Carpe Lunam,” and “Take Your First Steps, an Introduction to Amateur Astronomy.” John also wrote for twenty years the monthly stargazing column, Roanoke Skies, for the Roanoke Times, and currently writes a bimonthly column, Skywatch, for Blue Ridge Country magazine. He has contributed to Sky and Telescope magazine, the IDA Nightscape, the Astronomical League’s Reflector magazine, and the RASC Observer’s Handbook.

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