Sturgeon Moon in August: How to See the Last Supermoon of 2022

The “Sturgeon Moon” is set to appear in the sky on Thursday and Friday nights.

It reaches its maximum when it is closest to the horizon, so watch out for the sun setting around 6:30 PM.

There is no single definition of a “supermoon,” but the term usually refers to a full moon within 90% of its closest orbit to Earth.

Due to its proximity, a supermoon can appear up to 16% brighter and 7% larger than a “normal” full moon.

Why is it the month of the “sturgeon”?

Supermoons don’t really come in many different varieties, but historically they were given different names to track the months and seasons.

The name “Sturgeon Moon” comes from the Old Farmer’s Almanac, first published in the United States in 1792.

The month of August was nicknamed “Sturgeon Month” because it was typically the time of year when the largest sturgeon catches occurred in North America.

The Almanac argues that the nicknames for the moon derive from Colonial and Native American sources and are open to different interpretations.

For example, January is “Wolf Moon”, but it is also “Canada Goose Moon”, “Cold Moon” and “Spirit Moon”.

The moon will be visible from Thursday night to Friday night.

In fact, it peaks around 11:30 AM (AEST) on Friday, which is clearly not the best time to squint at the object.

As mentioned earlier, night is the best time to see.

City dwellers will want to find a spot with minimal lighting to get the best possible view.