Supermoon in the UAE: Here are places to catch ‘sturgeon moon’ and ‘blue moon’

For stargazers and space enthusiasts, August holds a double treat with two full moons – both 2023’s closest and hence “supermoons” set to grace the night skies.
The last time there were two full supermoons in the same month was in 2018.

The first, called the sturgeon moon, will be on the night of August 1, when the Moon will be 357,530km from the Earth. The full glory of the supermoon is best viewed at moonrise suggest astronomers. The sturgeon supermoon will be visible on two successive evenings, Monday, July 31, and Tuesday, August 1.

Supermoon month

This year has 13 full moons across the 12 months. This occurs when the lunar year which is shorter than the solar year results in additional moon cycles. This lunar year has 354 days while a solar year has 365.24 days. That means one month of the year must have two full moons—and that’s August 2023.

The second supermoon will take place on August 30, with the Moon just 357,344km from the Earth. As the second full moon in one month, it will be a blue moon.

The next time there will be two full supermoons in the same month will be in 2037.

If you are in the UAE and want to catch the sturgeon supermoon or the blue moon, here are the places you can head to.

Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre

The Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre is located in the middle of Mushrif Park. The centre has one of the largest telescopes in the region. Space enthusiasts can book a session at the centre and be shown how to use a telescope to observe the night sky.

Al Sadeem Astronomy

This Abu Dhabi-based Al Sadeem Astronomy is a private firm that specialises in deep-sky research, space awareness and observational astronomy. It offers guided private stargazing experiences and is the only authorised distributor of the Vaonis smart telescopes in the region.

The Al Quaa Milky Way spot

Due to UAE’s stunning landscape with deep desert spaces, several areas allow for watching the night sky without any light pollution. Over the years, the ‘Al Quaa Milky Way spot’ is one such location that brings stargazers from across the country.

Sharjah Centre for Astronomy and Space Sciences

The centre opened in 2015, has three telescopes and an observatory to observe the stars and planets. It also monitors the crescent moon throughout the year to contribute findings that determine when Islamic events, including Ramadan and Eid, begin.

Hatta

The Hajjar mountains offer good stargazing spots, however urban developments have led to some sections being affected by light pollution.

Apart from the supermoon event, summer months are a great time to view prominent constellations, star clusters and galaxy views in the UAE, says Al Sadeem Observatory. Here are some constellations you can look for on your next star-gazing outing.

• Scorpio
• Sagittarius
• Lyra
• Milky Way Galaxy
• Omega Centauri star cluster in the Centaurus constellation