The second supermoon of August, a celestial delight for stargazers and astronomy lovers, unfolded over Oman skies on Wednesday.
According to astronomers, the supermoon from August 30 to 31 will be the closest, largest, and brightest full supermoon of 2023. At that time, the moon will be 357,343 kilometers from Earth.
Mahmoud al Amri, a member of the Omani Astronomical Society, said:" We see the moon in giant size when it is at the closest point in its orbit around the earth. As the moon revolves around the earth in an elliptical orbit, the distance between the moon and the earth changes during the month. The moon passes once at the closest point in its orbit around the Earth and again at the farthest point in its orbit. For this reason, the size and brightness of the moon varies according to its location from these two points".
Oman witnessed the giant moon phenomenon two times this August, the moon had become a full moon at the beginning and end of this month which coincided with the middle of the two Hijri months of Muharram and Safar.
Al Amri said the best time to monitor and photograph this astronomical phenomenon is at the sunrise or sunset. During this time we see the difference in its size and brightness. He said it is difficult to distinguish this difference when it becomes high in the sky.
The moon's color at sunrise will be reddish or orange due to dust in the atmosphere scattering the white light and just colors of the red spectrum that we see remain. Once it changes the location, it will retain the usual silvery white color.
So, whether you're a seasoned stargazer or just a lay person curious about the wonders of the cosmos, this night offers a truly extraordinary viewing experience for the moon's luminous appearance. Take out your telescopes and cameras, and find a clear, open area away from city lights for the best possible view of this extraordinary event. If you don't have any of the gear, you can watch it with Oman Astronomical Society’s telescopes at Al Araimi Boulevard tonight from 7 pm to 10 pm. Be ready to be awestruck by the celestial spectacle.
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