Good morning. Today we take a look at what makes tonight’s full moon particularly special.
At 7:44 a.m. tonight, a full moon will rise. And this is not one to miss.
It’s a full moon and a “supermoon,” meaning it looks a little bigger and shines a little brighter. (That’s because it’s closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit.) That’s rare: There are usually only one or two supermoons a year, says Matt O’Dowd, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Lehman College. .
And it’s a “blue” moon, commonly defined as the second full moon of the month. That is rarer, hence the expression. Dr. O’Dowd said blue moons only happen once every three years.
But a super blue moon? That’s a trifecta. The next one is in January 2037, according to NASA.
New York City loves astronomical events. Crowds fill the streets during Manhattanhenge, when the sun seems to set right along the island’s broad avenues, lighting the streets pink and gold. During a solar eclipse in 2021, dozens of people paid $114.81 each to watch from the Empire State Building. Some arrived at 4:30 am
But while this super blue moon is rare, it’s actually not a big deal, astronomers said. At least not from a scientific perspective.
“The blueness doesn’t detract from the appearance,” said Dr. O’Dowd.
Supermoons appear slightly larger and often appear slightly brighter. But not by much, astronomers said. “It can also be good to manage expectations,” said Josh Tan, an assistant professor of astronomy and physics at LaGuardia Community College.
Emily Rice, an astrophysicist at Macaulay Honors College, agrees: The moon will look bigger, but not by much.
“Astronomers always have something to do,” she said, adding, “After we’re done with horoscopes and the zodiac,” it’s the supermoon’s turn.
The moon itself is already a marvel to behold. If a super blue moon makes people pause, look up and enjoy, so be it.
“It looks amazing, this giant rock hanging in the air,” said Dr. O’Dowd.
New Yorkers don’t have to leave the city to view the super blue moon.
“You don’t have to be in a place that’s super dark because it’s the moon,” said Kat Troche, vice president of operations for the Amateur Astronomers Association. “It won’t be hard to spot this.”
But light pollution makes other astrological events, such as asteroid showers, almost impossible to see in New York City. The faint orange-purple glow of our night sky affects everything from fireflies to migratory birds, which sometimes die flying into reflective windows.
A study published this year found that light pollution increased by 9.6 percent annually between 2011 and 2022. And in 2016, researchers found that 80 percent of people in North America can barely see the Milky Way.
“As New Yorkers, we have a hard time enjoying astronomical phenomena — like the supermoon — because of light pollution,” said Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who introduced the Dark Skies Protection Act last year, a measure to limit outdoor lighting. . “It shouldn’t be a luxury to stare at the sky.”
Amateur astronomers in the metropolitan area agree. Tonight, Ms. Troche will be part of a group meeting at Floyd Bennett Field, southeast Brooklyn, to look up.
She and others will be near the Community Garden after 7 p.m. Some bring their own telescopes, as they do at other astronomers’ meetings in town. If you go they will teach you how to use the sensitive equipment.
Then they encourage you to look at the cosmos.
If you want to go out on your own, see if you can borrow a telescope from the public library. Astronomers suggest looking for any spot facing east to watch the moon rise above the Earth’s surface.
The city’s parks department — and professional and amateur astronomers — suggested viewing spots in all five boroughs.
In the Bronx: Try the Parade Ground at Van Cortlandt Parks or Orchard Beach or City Island.
Brooklyn: You could join the amateur astronomers at Floyd Bennett Field. Or try the pier at Coney Island. Or lie down in the open spaces of Prospect Park.
Manhattan: Central Park is an obvious choice, even if the sky is clear. If you go, try the Great Hill. Or head north to Dyckman Ballfields, in Inwood Hill Park. Mrs. Troche suggested Carl Schurz Park, to watch the moon rise over Queens.
On Staten Island: Try the Lemon Creek pier or Great Kills Park.
Queens: Park officials suggested Fort Totten Park, until 10 p.m. Or sit on Rockaway Beach and watch the moon rise over the water.
“You don’t need a telescope,” Mrs. Troche said. “You don’t even need binoculars. You just need a clear sky.”
Wherever you go, bring bug spray, snacks, and a comfortable chair. Take it easy. Join. Take a moment to let yourself be filled by the magnificence.
Weather
Prepare for a sultry day with showers, fog and a maximum temperature of around 85 degrees. At night it will be partly cloudy, with temperatures dropping to the mid 60’s.
ALTERNATE PARKING
Effective until Monday (Labour Day).
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METROPOLITAN Diary
Blue soccer ball
Dear Diary:
While taking an early morning walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park with my daughter Ella, I noticed a blue soccer ball on the sidewalk next to the artificial turf fields at Pier 5.
A quick look around the area revealed no players who had kicked a ball that far out of bounds. Ella asked if we could keep the ball and after a brief moral quandary I picked it up and brought it with me.
When we got home, I cleaned the ball with a cloth in the sink. When I did, I discovered a name and number in a faded marker. I texted the number, explained we found the ball and offered to return it.
“Keep it,” the reply text read. “My kids lost that ball on that field seven years ago. They are all grown up and don’t need it anymore. I hope your daughter enjoys it as much as she does.”
—Brian Price
Illustrated by Agnes Lee. Send your entries here And read more Metropolitan Diary here.
Glad we could get together here. My colleague Dodai Stewart will be here tomorrow. – A
PS Here’s today’s one Mini crossword And Game match. You can find all our puzzles here.
Bernard Mokam and Ed Shanahan contributed to New York Today. You can reach the team at nytoday..
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