The Last supermoon of 2022 will be visible over Cardiff this week

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 Astronomy lovers are in for a real treat this week.

The last supermoon of the year, also known as the Sturgeon Moon, happens Thursday night and coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower and for once, the weather looks like it might actually be on our side for it.

The ‘Sturgeon Moon’ is looking like it will be bigger, brighter, and closer to earth than other full moons this year and will happen alongside  another celestial event the  Perseid meteor shower. 

The sturgeon moon’s name comes to us from the Algonquin tribes of what is now eastern North America, as large sturgeon fish were more easily caught in the Great Lakes at this time of year.

But it’s not all good news,  the bright full moon will likely hinder those hoping to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower. Meteors are best spotted with a dark sky. Usually, a new moon is best and away from light pollution. In this case, the supermoon won’t make good sky-gazing conditions for the Perseids.

According to NASA, the moon will be brighter than anything else in the night sky, washing out all but the most brilliant Perseids as they streak through Earth’s atmosphere.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”28130″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]

The supermoon itself won’t start until 2:35am Friday morning. At this point it will be high in the sky and won’t realistically look all that much bigger to human eyes than it would during any other month.

But if you look for the moon soon after it’s risen, you may benefit from an illusion that sometimes makes our natural satellite look bigger.

Don’t miss the last supermoon of the year![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]