The largest supermoon of 2022, the full moon in July, rises above the eastern horizon tonight.
It will become an amazing view of observing the sky, as “supermoons shine 16% brighter and look 6% larger than average.” full moon“writes geophysicist Chris Vaughan, an amateur astronomer of SkySafari software that oversees Space.com. Night sky calendar.
Moon Buck, also called Thunder Moon, or Hay Moon, will reach its full phase at 14:38 EDT or 11:38 AM PDT (18:38 GMT), according to Vaughan. It will shine among the constellations of Sagittarius and Capricorns.
Related: The brightest planets in the July night sky: how to see them (and when)
The exact time of the event varies depending on your specific location, so you’ll want to check out a sky viewing app like SkySafari or software like Starry Night to check schedules. Our choices for the best star-watching apps can help you with your planning.
The full moon occurs when the moon and sun are facing each other and sunlight hits the face moon. As such, it can be tricky to see the characteristics of the lunar surface in detail during a full moon due to the lack of shadows.
Supermoons occur when the full moon coincides with the closest approach to the moon Earth in its orbit, known as perigee. According to the Almanac del Pagès (opens in a new tab) and Fred Espanak (opens new tab), eclipse expert and retired astrophysicist from NASA, there are four supermoons in 2022, in May, June, July and August. The Spanish definition of a supermoon as a full moon at 90% of its closest approach to Earth offers us four to see this year.
The full moon of July is not only an impressive goal to see the sky, but it is also an important event in many different cultures around the world. Here are some examples of the cultural importance of the full moon in July according to NASA (opens in a new tab):
- Europeans sometimes call it the hay moon because of the time to make hay that falls between June and July.
- Hindus, Buddhists, and Jainists may call the July moon the full moon of the Guru (Guru Purnima), “celebrated as a time to enlighten the mind and honor the guru or spiritual master,” NASA said.
- Theravada Buddhists may call the July moon Asalha Puha (also known as Dharma Day or Esala Poya, a festival that celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon, NASA said). The July moon also marks the beginning of a three-month annual Buddhist retreat called Vassa.
- The full moon of July falls in the middle of the sixth month of the Chinese calendar, Tammuz in the Hebrew calendar and Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar.
If you are looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the moon, our guides on the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals can now help you. Our best astrophotography cameras and the best astrophotography lenses can also help you prepare to capture the next view of the sky on your own.
The next full moon will occur on August 11 and is known as the “Sturgeon Moon”. It will also be a supermoon, the last of the year.
Would you like to take a deeper tour of our rocky companion in the moonlight? Our definitive guide to observing the moon it will help you plan your next sky-watching adventure, whether it’s exploring the lunar seas, the mountainous terrain, or the numerous craters that cover the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and terrifiers have ventured with ours Apollo Landing Site Observation Guide.
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