drear moon areuncommonto begin with , and the one slated for August 22 , 2021 , will be extra special . The third full Sun Myung Moon of the summertime occurs shortly after the planets Jupiter and Saturn reach opposition , and the three celestial body will appear in the same realm of the night sky . Here ’s everything you involve to know to make the most of the consequence .
A Blue Sturgeon Moon
The termblue moonhas nothing to do with the orbiter ’s color . It ’s often used to describe thesecond full moonwithin a single calendar calendar month , but this substance come up from an mistake . Sky and Telescopeincorrectly characterise blue moons this way in 1946 , and it eventually became an recognized definition .
The original , more unnoticeable meaning ofblue moonis thethird of four full moonsto appear within an astronomical time of year . The full moon rising on Thursday , August 22 , 2021 , fits this definition . It will also be asturgeon moon — the family name given to the full moon in August .
Saturn and Jupiter at Opposition
August ’s blue moon closely surveil theopposition of Jupiter . A planet reaches opposite when Earth legislate at once between that planet and the sun . When this go on , Jupiter will reflect the maximum amount of light from our solar system ’s headliner , causing the gas behemoth to appear specially shiny in the night sky . The date of Jupiter ’s opposition lands on Tuesday , August 19 , 2021 , but its especial light will still be apparent on the day of the full drab moon .
Thursday , August 22 , is also a great time to spot Saturn . The planet make opposition earlier in the calendar month — on August 2 , 2021 — but it will proceed to shine brilliantly throughout the following weeks . If you want to see Saturn , Jupiter , and the gamy moon on the same night , you wo n’t have to look very far .
Saturn comes comparatively nigh the moon onAugust 20 , appear just 3.8 academic degree northwards of it . On August 22 — the date of the existent blue moon — Jupiterwill also make a close attack to it . It will come within 4.1 degree of the moonshine , also appearing on the top side . All three torso will search specially bright and close throughout that August calendar week .
