Though we all have differences, there’s one commonality that has prevailed for all of humanity: we are all floating on a rock, flying through outer space at over a million miles an hour.
Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology in the past century, we can observe much more of the Universe than we ever thought possible.
The scale and sheer size of the universe make it impossible to truly learn everything, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
Here's what's happening in space this week.
July is finally behind us, and August is officially here! As we all try to recover from the hottest month on record, here are some of the top upcoming celestial events to get you excited for the month of August.
THE STURGEON SUPERMOON
The first of the many celestial events to look forward to is the Sturgeon Moon.
The Sturgeon Moon, like many names for full moons, was named by Native Americans. August was typically the month many tribes would begin fishing for sturgeon, a large freshwater fish.
Starting on the first day of the month, the Sturgeon Moon is the first full moon of August. What's even more exciting is that this will be classified as a 'supermoon.'
A supermoon occurs when a new, or in this case, a full moon, happens while the Moon is within 90% of perigee, or its closest approach to Earth.
According to NASA, the moon will appear full for 3 days, lasting from early Monday morning to early Thursday.
The perseid meteor shower
The annual Perseid meteor shower begins in July each year. With anywhere from 50 to 100 meteors per hour, NASA says the Perseids are the best meteor shower of the year.
The Perseid meteor shower began in mid-July and will last until September 1. You should be able to see at least a few meteors per hour each night over the next few weeks if conditions are optimal.
During its peak in the week of August 13, the shower should produce up to 100 meteors per hour. The best time to view the meteors is early morning hours before the sun rises. They can also be seen late at night, sometimes as early as 10 p.m. in some areas.
Saturn at opposition
One of Saturn's best viewing opportunities of 2023 will happen this month.
On the morning of August 27, Saturn will reach opposition. According to NASA, this is the point at which it is directly opposite the Sun in our sky.
Due to its position, the ringed planet will be fully illuminated by the sun, shining brighter than it will at any other point in the year.
Positioned within the constellation Aquarius, both the planet and its rings will be illuminated and cast no shadows, making for the perfect viewing opportunity.
You should be able to see the planet your naked eye, appearing as a yellow dot in the sky. However, you'll need a small telescope if you want to get a glimpse of its rings.
THE BLUE SUPERMOON
Lastly, a rare Blue Moon will close out this especially eventful August in its final week.
Not only will this be a Blue Moon, a term used when there's two full moons in a single month, it will also be a supermoon.
The Blue Moon will make its appearance on August 30th. It will reach its peak that night at around 10 p.m. at just 222,043 miles from Earth, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
This super rare 'Blue Supermoon' will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. We won't have a closer full supermoon until 2025, so you won't want to miss it!
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