WEST MICHIGAN — The full moon in the month of August is known as the “Sturgeon Moon.” The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze. It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon.
But there’s more…this moon is actually considered a “Super Moon” since the full moon corresponds with it being the closest to Earth on its elliptical orbit out of the entire year. What does it mean? According to NASA the moon will appear to the naked eye about 14 percent bigger than normal and as much as 30 percent brighter than a “regular” full moon.
This is actually part two of a one, two, three punch full moon in 2014. There was one last month in July, another in August, and yet another in September. The moon will be 190,000 miles from the Earth, 20% closer than its farthest point, when it is 240,000 miles away.
Folks are also talking about the Perseid meteor showers that will occur this month. They actually peak between August 10 – 13, but the best situation is NOT a full moon! It makes it more difficult to see the annual meteor shower by washing out the sky with brightness. Unfortunately, more clouds may be rolling in Sunday night and Monday as a cold front inches closer to the state.
You can click here for more on these super moons from NASA.
The beautiful moon attached to this story was snapped by FOX 17 viewer Bill Beatty of Muskegon taken in June over Muskegon Lake. You can always email your weather photos to weather@fox17online.com or news@fox17online.com, or simply post them on the FOX 17 Facebook page.