Scientists and onlookers marveled at the first of two supermoons in the month of August, which was on display Tuesday, with photos of the phenomenon quickly spreading online.
The supermoon, defined as a full moon that is closer to the Earth than normal, appeared larger and brighter in the night sky. Typically, months will only see one supermoron, but this August is unique in that there will be two supermoons in the same month, the second being called a blue moon.
That is the reason for the phrase: “once in a blue moon.”
Eager photographers shared photos of the sturgeon moon, named after the time of year when the large fish were abundant in the Great Lakes, over Washington, D.C., New York City and countries around the globe.
WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE MARKS 1ST YEAR OF SCIENCE WITH MARVELOUS NEW IMAGE
The moon rises through clouds over the skyline of lower Manhattan in this view from West Orange, N.J., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The supermoon rises above the Thomas Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
The supermoon rises behind a minaret of a mosque in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
It reached its peal at 2:32 p.m. ET.
The moon was about 222,159 miles away, thus the larger appearance.
INDIAN SPACECRAFT BEGINS MISSION TO FAR SIDE OF MOON AFTER FAILED ATTEMPT NEARLY 4 YEARS AGO
The term “supermoon” was first coined in 1979.
The moon rises through clouds over the skyline of lower Manhattan as seen from West Orange, N.J., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
A cable car moves towards Sugar Loaf mountain as a supermoon rises on the night sky in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The blue moon will be apparent on the night of Aug. 30. The next blue moon is expected to take place in May 2026.
Fox News’ Julia Musto and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
It's virtually illegal to make a left turn in many parts of New Jersey, and bipartisan…
Image 1 of 14 next People gather as they wait to see the hearse transferring…
President Donald Trump is closing in on the first 100 days of his administration this…
FIRST ON FOX: President Trump’s "nicotine freedom crusade" rolling back Biden-era policies related to nicotine…
A recent profile piece on Alex Soros, the heir to the vast liberal mega donor…
close Video Cardinal Dolan thanks media for coverage on Pope Francis Cardinal Dolan jokes with…