Sturgeon supermoon over Penticton.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Margarite Monno
September 26, 2023 - 6:00 AM
The last supermoon of the year is making an appearance this week and there won’t be another one to view until next year.
The Harvest Moon is the fourth and last of four consecutive full moons lighting up skies over Kamloops and the Okanagan this summer. There were a pair of supermoons in August — the Sturgeon Moon and the Buck Moon — a rare phenomenon that only happens every few years. The Full Buck moon rose in July.
A supermoon happens when the moon is at its fullest at the same time it hits the part of its oval orbit closest to the Earth. Because they're so close to Earth, supermoons can appear a bit bigger and brighter in the sky, according to Space.com.
The Harvest Full Moon is named for being the closest full moon to the autumn equinox, and will reach peak fullness on Friday, Sept. 29 at 3 a.m., appearing bright the night before and after giving sky watchers ample opportunity to view and photograph it.
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While Environment Canada is predicting a 60 per cent chance of showers in Kamloops and the throughout the Okanagan overnight on Thursday, Sept. 28, the following two nights are a bit more promising for moon viewing with cloudy periods predicted.
The next supermoon is also a Harvest Moon and will rise in the night sky in September, 2024.
If you're able to get photos of the super harvest moon and want to share them, send them to news@infonews.ca.
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