Supermoon August 2022: When is the next Supermoon - how to see the Sturgeon Moon in Liverpool

A supermoon will be visible from this evening and with the weather forecast looking good, stargazers in Liverpool are in for a treat.

The Sturgeon Supermoon is the second to take place in 2022, following July 13’s supermoon, and is to be the last to take place in 2022, with a long wait until the next one.

With the Met Office forecasting a clear night sky across Liverpool, the Sturgeon Supermoon comes a mere few days before another cosmic lightshow - the peak of the Perseids meteor shower on August 13.

But how can residents get the best view of the supermoon as it begins on Wednesday night, when does it peak and why is it called a Sturgeon supermoon?

What is a supermoon?

One definition of a supermoon is that if the Moon is within 10% of its closest distance at the moment of full moon, it is considered a supermoon.

The moment when the moon is closest to the Earth is called a lunar perigee. When the moon is furthest away it is known as a lunar apogee.

If the lunar perigee occurs very close to a full moon, then the public will see a supermoon. If a lunar apogee occurs very close to a full moon then the public will see a micromoon.

During a supermoon, the moon will appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter compared with when the moon is furthest away.

Why is it called Sturgeon?

The name is based on the idea of using the moon as an indicator of optimal harvests in olden times.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac writes that the name stems from the huge numbers of sturgeon that were pulled from the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain by Native American Indians.

Europeans referred to the August full moon as the “Grain Moon,” when the grain harvest was similarly at its peak for the year.

When is the supermoon visible in Liverpool?

Tonight’s sunset will begin to set at 8:49pm in Liverpool, the moon will rise at 9:15pm and although it will be a few hours before peak illumination, it should offer a good view an hour or so after rising.

The peak of the Sturgeon Supermoon will occur Friday morning (August 12) at 1:36am, and astronomers call this exact moment a syzygy. It’s given to when for just a moment the moon is directly between the mun and the earth in a straight line.

Will I be able to see the last supermoon in Liverpool?

The Met Office has forecast clear skies across Liverpool this evening, with a temperature of 25c at sunset.

The Met Office has also forecast good visibility also, creating very good conditions to witness the lunar event.

How can I best see the Sturgeon Supermoon in Liverpool?

Liverpudlians can count themselves fortunate to have clear skies this evening, so the best way to see the supermoon is:

• Keeping an eye on the sky in the southeast and away from any areas with light pollution (bright lights that will affect the clarity of the night sky)
• If you live in an area where the horizon is obstructed, for example, by buildings or trees, then it’s recommended you wait a little longer, until the Moon has risen higher in the sky at around midnight.

When is the next supermoon?

If you miss out on the Sturgeon Supermoon, unfortunately you’re going to have to wait until 2023 for the next supermoon.

The next one will occur in 2023 on August 1 and 31, followed by September 18 and October 17 2024.

There is plenty happening in the night sky in 2022 still; we are in the middle of a meteor shower that reaches its peak this weekend and in a clear night sky the Perseids meteor shower is one of the brightest and vibrant in the lunar year.