The upcoming full Moon is scheduled for Wednesday night, August 30, 2023, and will be visible opposite the Sun in Earth-based longitude at 9:36 PM EDT. During this time, the planet Saturn, just days away from its peak brightness for the year, will be situated near the Moon. As evening twilight fades at 8:42 PM, Saturn will be positioned 5 degrees to the upper right of the Moon. Over the course of the evening, Saturn will appear to move in a clockwise direction around the Moon.
The full Moon phase will extend for approximately three days around its peak, from Tuesday night to Friday morning. This specific full Moon in August will be classified as a supermoon. Although different criteria are used to determine “supermoons,” it is unanimously agreed upon that both full Moons in August of 2023 meet the qualifications for this designation.
Furthermore, this full Moon holds significance as it represents the second full Moon within August, adhering to the modern definition of a Blue Moon introduced by Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946. This modern interpretation differs from the older definition, dating back to the 1500s, where a Blue Moon indicated the third full Moon within a season featuring four full Moons. Notably, these definitions have no correlation to the Moon’s actual color.
This full Moon coincides with the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi or Rakhi Purnima. This celebration commemorates the bond between siblings, with sisters of all ages tying a rakhi (cotton bracelet) around their brothers’ wrists. This gesture symbolizes an enduring connection, and the term “Raksha Bandhan” translates to “the bond of protection, obligation, or care.”
In various traditional calendars like the lunisolar and lunar calendars, full Moons often align with the midpoint of the lunar months. For instance, this full Moon corresponds to the middle of the seventh month in the Chinese calendar, Safar in the Islamic calendar, and Elul in the Hebrew calendar. Elul, in particular, is a period of preparation leading up to the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Customs during this time involve seeking forgiveness from others and expressing well wishes for the year ahead.
As we approach the full Moon after next, here are some celestial events to anticipate:
As summer gives way to fall, the duration of sunlight will continue to decrease, particularly around the autumnal equinox.
On Wednesday, August 30, 2023 (the day of the full Moon), morning twilight will commence at 5:35 AM EDT, with sunrise occurring at 6:35 AM. Solar noon, the moment when the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, will take place at 1:09 PM, with the Sun at an altitude of 60.0 degrees. Sunset is set for 7:42 PM, followed by evening twilight concluding at 8:42 PM. The autumnal equinox will transpire on Saturday, September 23, marking the balance between day and night as the Sun crosses the Earth’s equator.
By Friday, September 29 (the day of the full Moon after next), the morning twilight will initiate at 6:04 AM, with sunrise at 7:02 AM. Solar noon on that day will occur at 12:58 PM, with the Sun reaching an altitude of 48.6 degrees. Sunset is scheduled for 6:54 PM, and evening twilight concludes at 7:52 PM.
Throughout this lunar cycle, no major meteor showers are projected to peak. Three minor meteor showers will peak, producing six or fewer visible meteors per hour under ideal conditions, rendering them barely discernible from urban areas with bright lighting.
For evening sky enthusiasts:
On the evening of Wednesday, August 30, 2023 (the night of the full Moon), as evening twilight wanes (at 8:42 PM EDT), the ascending Moon will rise 8 degrees above the east-southeastern horizon. Notably, the planet Saturn will be situated 5 degrees to the upper right of the Moon. Meanwhile, the planet Mars will be setting on the western horizon. The prominent star visible closest to overhead will be Vega, positioned 85 degrees above the eastern horizon. Vega, the brightest star in the Lyra constellation, forms one vertex of the Summer Triangle, along with Deneb and Altair. Vega’s luminosity exceeds that of our Sun, shining approximately 40 times brighter, while being around 25 light-years away.
As this lunar cycle advances, the backdrop of stars and the planet Saturn will appear to shift westward each evening due to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Mars will exhibit a slower shift on the western horizon and will cease to be visible above the horizon during evening twilight after September 1. During the subsequent days, the waxing Moon will pass by Spica on September 17, Antares on September 20, and Saturn on September 26.
By the evening of Thursday, September 28 (marking the start of the night of the full Moon after next), as evening twilight wanes (at 7:53 PM EDT), the ascending Moon will rise 12 degrees above the east-southeastern horizon. Notably, the planet Saturn will be positioned 23 degrees above the southeastern horizon. Vega, still prominent, will be found 83 degrees above the western horizon.
For early risers:
On the morning of Thursday, August 31, 2023 (the morning after the full Moon), morning twilight will commence at 5:36 AM EDT. During this time, the Moon, situated 14 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon, will be in its setting phase. Saturn will appear to the lower right of the Moon, approximately 7 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon. Additionally, Venus will grace the eastern horizon, located at 9 degrees above the horizon, while Jupiter will shine brightly, positioned 66 degrees above the southern horizon.
As the lunar cycle unfolds, the visible planets and the backdrop of stars will appear to shift westward in the sky each morning. On September 8, Saturn will vanish from the morning sky, while Mercury will make its debut, rising before morning twilight begins. By September 14, Mercury will be distinctly visible, although its initial sighting may prove challenging due to its faintness. Venus will reach its peak brilliance on September 19, when it may even be visible during daylight hours. By September 22, Mercury will achieve its greatest angular separation from the Sun, appearing at its highest point above the horizon during morning twilight on September 23. Additionally, the waning Moon will pass close to Jupiter on September 4, Pollux on September 10, Venus on September 11 and 12, and Regulus on September 13.
By the morning of Friday, September 29, 2023 (the morning after the full Moon after next), the setting full Moon will be positioned 11 degrees above the western horizon. The three visible planets—Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury—will grace the sky. Venus will stand out as the brightest, located 29 degrees above the eastern horizon. Jupiter will follow, positioned 48 degrees above the west-southwestern horizon. Finally, Mercury will make its appearance at 4 degrees above the eastern horizon.