The month of August presents a stunning cosmic display featuring Saturn in its opposition, the comeback of the yearly Perseid meteor shower, and an exceptional occurrence of a “super blue moon.” Saturn’s opposition makes it observable all through the night. In tandem with the new moon, the Perseid meteor shower promises an extraordinary display. This month, the lunar cycle brings two full moons, with the latter being termed as a “blue moon.” Uniquely, the second full moon also aligns with the moon’s closest proximity to Earth, resulting in a supermoon. This infrequent combination, dubbed as the “super blue moon,” typically transpires once every ten years.
August boasts a visible Saturn throughout the night, the return of the Perseids creating a captivating spectacle on the 12th/13th, and a Super Blue Moon!
What to expect in the skies in August 2023?
This month, Saturn reaches opposition, making it visible all night at its most radiant and substantial for the year. The Perseid meteor shower’s “shooting stars,” are not to be missed, taking place overnight on August 12th. Moreover, this month will see two full moons, with the latter referred to as a “Super Blue Moon.”
Video Summary:
This August, look forward to seeing Saturn at twilight and dawn, the comeback of the Perseid meteors, and a “super blue moon.”
In August, Venus and Mars have faded from the evening sky, but Saturn will be visible all night. This month, Saturn reaches opposition, which means it’s directly opposite the Sun as observed from Earth. Planets in opposition rise right after sunset and are visible until dawn, looking their largest and most luminous for the year. Search for the colossal planet low in the eastern sky around 9 pm mid-month, appearing slightly higher each evening as August proceeds.
Sky chart shows the Moon near the Pleiades star cluster on the morning of August 9. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
On the morning of August 3rd, Saturn appears merely a few finger widths apart from the nearly full Moon. Spot them in the west before sunrise. The Moon then pairs well with the Pleiades star cluster on the 9th morning, with Jupiter nearby. Subsequently, the Moon has a super-close encounter with the reddish star Antares – the brightest star in the Scorpius constellation – on the evening of August 24th.
The Moon seems incredibly close to the bright star Antares in Scorpius on the evening of August 24. Observers in the Eastern and Southern U.S. may witness the Moon pass in front of (occult) Antares. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
August brings the renowned annual meteor shower, the Perseids. This year, a grand show is expected, as the peak night – August 12th into the 13th – aligns with the new moon. The meteors are remnants of dust – most no larger than grains of sand – originating from comet Swift-Tuttle. Each year, around the same time, Earth traverses through the comet’s debris trail, leading to this annual shower.
The radiant – the point in the sky where the meteors appear to originate – is towards the northeast, lying between the upside-down “W” of the Cassiopeia constellation and the bright star Capella. Viewing the Perseids is straightforward – just locate a safe, dark spot to lie down with your feet pointed roughly towards the northeast, and gaze straight up. The best time for observation is between midnight and dawn, as the radiant ascends higher in the sky. Meteor activity is expected to be most intense in the hour before dawn.
The crescent moon also rises a couple of hours before dawn, but with only about 7% illumination, it should not significantly interfere with viewing the meteors. Early morning hours in the week before and after the peak may also reveal a few meteors.
Super blue moons transpire roughly every 10 years, on average – though the interval between any two occurrences can range from two months to two decades or more. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
August commences and concludes with a full moon, leading to a unique event that happens only every few years. A second full moon in a single calendar month is commonly termed a “blue moon.” They occur every 2 to 3 years since the Moon’s monthly cycle is slightly shorter than the average length of a month. So, a full moon eventually occurs at the start of a month, with sufficient days left for a complete lunar cycle, leading to a blue moon.
What’s more! The August 30th blue moon is also a supermoon. The moon’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle, so sometimes it’s a little farther away from Earth and sometimes closer. At its closest point, called perigee, it’s 14% closer than at its farthest. About 3 to 4 times a year, the full moon phase happens to align with the Moon reaching perigee, and we refer to that event as a supermoon. While technically a little bigger (and slightly brighter) than the average full moon, the difference is barely noticeable to the eye.
Comparison of the size of an average full moon, compared to the size of a supermoon. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
This combination of two special full moons, leading to a “super blue moon,” transpires roughly every 10 years, on average – though the period between any two occurrences can fluctuate from two months to two decades or more.
Enjoy this month’s two full moons. While the second one won’t appear supersized or any bluer than usual, now you understand what makes it unique.
Here are the Moon’s phases for August:
The phases of the Moon for August 2023. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Stay informed about all of NASA’s missions to discover the solar system and beyond at nasa.gov. I’m Preston Dyches from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and that concludes the highlights for this month.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about August 2023 Skywatching Events
What celestial events are happening in August 2023?
August 2023 is packed with celestial events including Saturn reaching its opposition, the annual return of the Perseid meteor shower, and the rare occurrence of a “super blue moon.”
What is Saturn’s opposition and when will it occur?
Saturn’s opposition in August 2023 is when the planet is directly opposite the Sun as seen from Earth. This makes Saturn visible all night and appear at its biggest and brightest for the year.
What can we expect from the Perseid meteor shower in August 2023?
The Perseid meteor shower in August 2023 is expected to provide a spectacular display, particularly since it coincides with the new moon. The meteors, originating from the comet Swift-Tuttle, will peak on the night of August 12th into the 13th.
What is a “Super Blue Moon” and when will it occur?
A “Super Blue Moon” is a rare event that occurs when a second full moon in a single month (a “blue moon”) coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth (a “supermoon”). In August 2023, this event will happen on August 30th.
What are some tips for viewing the Perseid meteor shower?
To view the Perseid meteor shower, find a safe, dark spot to lie down with your feet pointing roughly towards the northeast, and look straight up. The best time to view them is between midnight and dawn, as the radiant rises higher in the sky.
What is the significance of the “super blue moon”?
The combination of a blue moon and a supermoon, known as a “super blue moon,” is a rare event that occurs approximately every decade. While the super blue moon doesn’t appear noticeably larger or bluer, the combination of these events is what makes it special.
More about August 2023 Skywatching Events
- NASA’s Guide to Skywatching
- How to Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower
- Understanding Moon Phases
- Detailed Explanation of a Supermoon
- What is a Blue Moon?
4 comments
who else is setting an alarm for the meteor shower? Here’s to clear skies on August 12th. fingers crossed.
omg! I always love the Perseid meteor shower, theyre like shooting stars. making a wish on August 12th for sure!!
As an amateur astronomer, I gotta say, this is some really cool info. Saturn’s opposition and the meteor shower are gonna be epic to watch!
So, a “super blue moon” isn’t actually blue? lol always learning something new… cheers for the clear explanations.