How to make the most of an enjoy the 30/31 August Super Blue Moon.
Super Blue Moons don’t come round that often!
But this is the name some observers give to the full Moon that will be shining brightly in the sky on 30/31 August 2023.
But why is it a Super Blue Moon, and how can we make the most of it?
The reason tonight’s Moon is known by some as a ‘Blue Moon‘ is because it’s the second full Moon in a month, the first having appeared on 1 August.
The term ‘Blue Moon’ originally meant the ‘third full Moon in a season of four’, but nowadays many people use the alternative definition.
And, because the 30/31 August full Moon occurs around perigee – the point when the Moon is closest to Earth in its orbit – tonight’s full Moon is what some refer to as a ‘Supermoon‘.
That’s why many observers are calling tonight’s full Moon a ‘Super Blue Moon’.
Despite the undoubted hype surrounding the ‘Super Blue Moon’, in reality tonight’s Moon won’t look any bigger than the Moons either side of it.
Yes, a perigee full Moon is larger and brighter than an apogee full Moon (apogee meaning the point when the Moon is farthest from Earth in its orbit).
But the difference is difficult to discern by the naked eye.
Nevertheless, Supermoons and Blue Moons are a great excuse to get outside and get looking up at our celestial neighbour, and can be a great entry point for kids and newcomers to astronomy.
But unlike a meteor shower or a solar eclipse, you could be forgiven for thinking that a quick glance at the bright full Moon should suffice.
So how can you really make the most of and enjoy tonight’s Super Blue Moon?
Here are 6 ways to enjoy the August Super Blue Moon, or any full Moon for that matter!
For more advice, read our complete guide to observing the Moon with the naked eye or a telescope.
6 ways to enjoy the Super Blue Moon
Observe the Moon with binoculars
If you don’t have a telescope, you might at least have a pair of binoculars in the house collecting dust.
Give them a good clean and get them ready for tonight’s full Moon.
Many astronomers will tell you a full Moon is not a great time to observe our celestial neighbour with magnification.
And to an extent, that’s true.
The best times to observe the Moon are during the crescent Moon and gibbous Moon phases, when the terminator (the line dividing the lit and unlit side of the Moon) throws shadows on the surface, highlighting surface features.
But if you’ve never considered pointing your binoculars at the night sky before, tonight is a great opportunity to give it a go.
You may find yourself returning again and again, using your binoculars to track features on the Moon.
Read our full Moon guide for advice on what to see.
If you do fall in love with observing the Moon, read our guide to the best features to observe on the Moon.
Observe the Moon illusion
Have you ever noticed that a full Moon that’s low in the sky and close to the horizon looks huge?
You’re not alone. This is a well-documented phenomenon, but in fact it’s an illusion.
No-one quite knows what causes the Moon illusion.
It could be a result of the Moon’s position on the celestial sphere making it seem bigger, as shown in the diagram above.
Or perhaps the fact that a low Moon is accompanied by foreground objects like trees and buildings makes it seem so much bigger.
Observe tonight’s Moon as it rises at around 20:15 BST (UTC+1), making sure you have a clear horizon.
Does it look much bigger than expected?
Hold your arm outstretched and see how you can comfortably cover the Moon with your thumb, thus breaking the illusion.
Photograph the Moon with a DSLR camera
A DSLR camera is a great way of photographing the Moon, and is a great project to undertake during a bright supermoon.
For advice on equipment and tips and techniques, read our complete guide on how to photograph the Moon.
Photograph the Moon with a smartphone
If you don’t have a DSLR camera and other necessary equipment, fear not.
It is possible to photograph the Moon with your smartphone camera.
In our guide, we go through how you can avoid an over-exposed, washed out bright full Moon
And tips on pointing your phone down your telescope’s eyepiece for a better view.
Find out more in our guide how photograph the Moon with your smartphone camera.
Sketch the Moon
If you don’t have a camera to hand, sketching the Moon is a great way to record what you can see on the surface.
Again, you’ll be able to get a more dramatic lunar view during a crescent or gibbous phase of the Moon, as that terminator will make things a bit more interesting.
But nevertheless, having a go at sketching the supermoon and honing in on some of the details is a great way to start your journey into lunar sketching.
Head out again over the coming weeks and begin to build up a catalogue of lunar drawings, showing the phases changing over time.
Find out more in our guide on how to draw the Moon
Observe the Moon’s ray-ejecta systems
Ray ejecta systems are one type of lunar feature that can be seen well during a full Moon.
They also make great lunar targets for photographing.
Ray ejecta systems look like bright streaks stretching out from some of the Moon’s craters
Tycho crater (above) is perhaps the most famous.
These features are lunar material thrown out onto the surface during impacts throughout the Moon’s history.
For more info on this, read our guide to lunar ray ejecta systems
Did you enjoy the supermoon? Did you take a photo of it? Get in touch by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com.