Metro Vancouver sky-watchers can bathe in the light of a super-sized full moon tonight...and it is also called a "blue" moon this year.
The full moon will appear at its fullest in the Lower Mainland on Monday, Aug. 19 at 11:25 a.m., according to timeanddate.com.
Since it is considered a "supermoon," the August moon will appear bigger and brighter due to its proximity to Earth.
EarthSky notes that astronomers usually refer to supermoons as perigean full moons — referring to the moon being "near Earth."
August's full moon is also considered a "seasonal" blue moon, different from the monthly ones. A monthly blue moon is the second full moon in a month with two, while a seasonal one is the third Full Moon in an astronomical season with four Full Moons. It occurs between the summer equinox and the fall solstice, according to NASA.
The space agency also says the moon "will appear full for three days, from Sunday morning through early Wednesday morning."
V.I.A.'s Downtown Centre Weatherhood station shows a mix of sun and cloud on Monday, with a high of 21 C and a low of 16 C. However, there is a 25 per cent chance of some light showers developing overnight
Full Sturgeon Moon rises in Vancouver
The full sturgeon moon is named after the large, prehistoric fish found in lakes across North America and worldwide. August was considered the best time to fish the ancient-looking creatures, which "have been traced back to around 136 million years ago," according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The August moon was also given other names by different tribes across the continent, including "'Wheat Cut Moon” (San Ildefonso, and San Juan), “Moon When All Things Ripen” (Dakotah Sioux), and the ”Blueberry Moon” (Ojibwe).
More supermoons in 2024
The second "supermoon" takes place on Sept. 18 and nearly coincides with a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible in the area on the previous day, Sept. 17, starting at 7:18 p.m. It will continue until 9:47 p.m. However, the early stages of the eclipse will not be visible from Vancouver because the moon will be below the horizon, according to timeanddate.com.
The third supermoon of 2024 takes place the following month, on Oct. 17, and the fourth and final on Nov. 15.
No viewing equipment is needed to view the supermoons but overcast skies could obscure the display. Locals can check current conditions in their neighbourhood in the Metro Vancouver weather forecast with Weatherhood.
