2022 has been a pretty big year for lunar events, with 4 supermoons in a row and the eclipse we were also fortunate to see, but it all ends with this week’s full “sturgeon moon,” the final full supermoon of the year, which will light up the night sky over Beaufort SC this week.
A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, known as perigee. It appears slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon. Supermoons can appear larger and up to 16% brighter in the sky than the average full moon, according to timeanddate.com.
August’s full Sturgeon Moon reaches its peak this Thursday, August 11th. The super sturgeon moon peaks around 9:36 p.m. EDT on Thursday, although the moon will appear bright and full on Wednesday and Friday night as well.
So why is this one called the sturgeon moon? The Farmer’s Almanac began printing Native American names for full moons in the 1930s, according to NASA, and these names have stuck around to become commonplace today.
The Sturgeon Moon’s name comes from the Algonquin tribes of what is now eastern North America, as large sturgeon fish were more easily caught in the Great Lakes at this time of year.
A full moon occurs about once a month when the sun, Earth and moon align on an invisible 180-degree line. The moon’s orbit is about 5 degrees different from Earth’s, so it is usually a little higher or lower than Earth’s shadow, enabling the sun’s rays to illuminate the side facing the Earth.
The next full moon after August’s supermoon will peak on Saturday, Sept. 10th. That moon is typically called the Harvest Moon.
We sure do love a supermoon over Beaufort. The way it lights up the night sky and sets the Lowcountry aglow is always a special treat.
