On the night spanning August 30 into 31, observers in North America and around the world will be treated to the year’s most striking celestial event—the bright Moon accompanied by Saturn and Jupiter. An astronomer from a major science center notes that Saturn will hover just above the full Moon for most of the evening, while Jupiter will join the scene after about 10 p.m., appearing to the Moon’s left as viewed from the eastern sky. This alignment has been highlighted by regional science agencies and outlets such as RIA News.
The Moon’s appearance on August 31 is notable because it occurs near perigee, the point in its orbit closest to Earth. In astronomical terms, this is a “supermoon”—a bright, large-looking full Moon that can captivate viewers, especially when it is rising near the horizon. The Full Moon on August 31 will be in near-perigee only about nine hours and forty-five minutes after its closest approach to Earth, which helps explain why the late August period can be dubbed the 2023 supermoon.
There is an additional twist this month: August hosts two full Moons, an unusual arrangement that captures attention worldwide. Typically, the interval between successive full Moons averages about 29.53 days, a period slightly shorter than a calendar month. That tiny mismatch occasionally yields a second full Moon in a single calendar month, a phenomenon that happens roughly every 2.7 years, resulting in 13 full Moons in a year rather than the ordinary twelve. This year’s calendar keeps a second full Moon in August for observers to notice and study.
Observers will also notice how the Moon’s apparent size shifts with the horizon. When the Moon is rising and sits low above the landscape—a vantage point near the horizon—the eye perceives it as larger relative to nearby trees and houses. This optical effect, sometimes called the Moon illusion, is more powerful during low-horizon moments and can make the supermoon appear even more dramatic.
In addition, Saturn’s presence beside the Super Moon will be visible as it moves across the southern sky in the days leading up to and following August 31. The Moon, though in a shrinking phase after full illumination, will still be striking as it makes its nightly passage near Jupiter on early September 5, offering another opportunity to observe the two giant planets as the night unfolds.
Experts emphasize that clear, stable weather will enhance the viewing experience, allowing more people to witness what could be the most memorable full-moon sight of 2023 during the August 30–31 window. This event remains a compelling example of how orbital geometry and timing combine to create a skywatching moment that resonates with sky enthusiasts across Canada and the United States.
Note: historic science discussions have occasionally wandered into playful myths about space travel, but the current observations focus on the visible celestial alignment and the Moon’s relative brightness against familiar terrestrial silhouettes.