On the night of August 30, the sky will offer us a very bright Super Moon that is 7% larger than usual.
The "Super Blue Moon" will be visible in the sky on Wednesday, August 30.
"The warm summer nights are the ideal time to watch the full moon rise in the eastern sky a few minutes after sunset," explained retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak to Nexstar's WPIX.
According to NASA, the term "Super Moon" was invented by an astrologer in 1979.
"It is often used today by the media to describe what astronomers would call a perigee full moon: a full moon occurring near or at the time when the Moon is at its closest point in its orbit around the Earth," adds the government agency.
The event marks an exciting period for observation, as it is not only a full moon but also a Blue Moon - meaning it is the third full moon in a season that has four full moons.
The Blue Moon is now the second full moon of this month after the Sturgeon Moon rose on August 1.
This cosmic event only occurs once every two or three years.
A two for one!
And it doesn't stop there: the August 2023 Blue Moon will also be joined by a special guest in the sky: Saturn.
Saturn will be particularly bright that evening, as the gas giant will be at the point in the sky where it is directly opposite the Sun as seen from Earth.
Observers in North America will be able to see the planet in the constellation of Aquarius, located above and to the right of the Moon, while those in the southern hemisphere will see it just below the Moon.
Although the phenomenon occurs relatively frequently by astronomical standards - once every two or three years - it is certainly a rare observation for us.
The last Blue Moon rose in August 2021, and the next one is expected to rise in August 2024, so bring out your binoculars!
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