Supermoon Times Two In August: Montana’s Stunning Night Sky Show

The Big Sky over Montana is offering not one, but two chances to catch a Super Moon in August, 2023.

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What Is A Super Moon?

From Dictionary.com

a full moon that purportedly looks larger than normal when it coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth.

From The Old Farmer's Almanac:

Broad Definition: A supermoon is a new or full moon that occurs when the Moon is near perigee (the point in the Moon’s orbit where it is closest to Earth). By this definition, there can be several supermoons in a year. This term, “supermoon,” was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and specified that the Moon must be within 90% of perigee.

Either definition means the moon is orbiting closer to earth so it looks SUPER big compared to other times.

When Should We Be Watching the Sky?

From Montana Public Radio:

The first Super Moon is happening Tuesday, August 2.  This moon is also known as a Sturgeon Moon.  This name is derived from Native American tribes who said sturgeon were easy to catch in the Great Lakes during these moon events.

The second Super Moon is happening on Wednesday,  August 30th.  This moon is even more special than a Super Moon as it's also a Blue Moon.  This is a very special event as we won't have another Blue Moon until August 2032.

What is a Blue Moon?

From Merriam-Webster:

a second full moon in a calendar month

Where is the Best Place to See a Super Moon in Montana?

As with any kind of star watching, it's best to head out to an area where street lights don't brighten up the sky.