August 2nd 2023.
Last night, photographers around the world captured stunning pictures of the Sturgeon Full Moon, a spectacular lunar event known as a Supermoon. This was the first of two Supermoons that will take place this month.
Supermoons occur when a full moon is at its closest point to Earth, known as lunar perigee. The Moon's orbit is elliptical, so its distance from Earth changes; last night, the Moon was around 222,000 miles away. Supermoons can appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a full moon at its further point.
Full moons are traditionally associated with Native American history; the Sturgeon Full Moon is named after the time of year in which people, in some regions of North America, would catch the famous fish. August's second Supermoon is also a Blue Moon - when a second full moon occurs in one calendar month.
The photos taken last night were truly captivating. From the Sturgeon Supermoon rising behind Istanbul's Camlica Mosque, to the silver Supermoon meeting the Golden Arches, to the full moon silhouetting the Liberty Monument in Nicosia, Cyprus, the images are incredible.
It was a beautiful sight, although not visible in the UK due to poor weather conditions. But there is more to come this month, with the second Supermoon and Blue Moon set to take place on August 31.
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