Look up tonight to catch a glimpse of the Black Supermoon

There will be a Black Supermoon on the rise tonight in southern B.C.

July’s second new moon of the calendar month occurs tonight, July 31. 

The second new moon is called a Black Moon. Tonight’s moon will be a supermoon as well, as the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. A Black Moon occurs only once every 32 months.

Amaze Lab says tonight’s moon might be difficult to see because the far side of the moon is being lit up by the sun, but the night sky should be clear, dark and smoke-free in the Kamloops and the Okanagan, perfect for stargazing.

Technically speaking, the moon comes closest to Earth at a point known as perigee, and swings farthest from Earth at a point referred to as apogee. At apogee, the moon is zero per cent of its closest distance to Earth; at perigee, it’s at 100 per cent of its closest distance to Earth.

A full moon at perigee is 50,000 kilometres closer to Earth than a full moon aligning with apogee.

EarthSky reports tonight’s supermoon is the first of three straight new moon supermoons this year, falling on July 31, Aug. 30 and Sept. 28, 2019.

There’s another reason to spend some time looking up these nights, as the Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower peaks this weekend. The beginning of August also brings the Perseid meteor shower to night skies near you.

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