The Sturgeon Moon: Because prehistoric fish dictate our lunar calendar
Oh, joy. The early morning of this Saturday gives us the privilege of witnessing an event that occurs every month, but with a much more pompous name: the Full Moon or, for connoisseurs of celestial marketing, the Sturgeon Moon. The reason? A group of tribes, with an evident obsession with ichthyology, decided to name the August moon that way because it coincided with their favorite season of fishing for the gigantic and, it must be said, quite ugly, sturgeon. Of course, nothing says “cosmic spectacle” like naming it after a fish that looks like a swimming fossil.
This incredible one – and it would be even if it were called the Pufferfish Moon – is not content with being a shiny sphere. According to those in the know, it has reactions to the behavior of the sea, which sounds tremendously scientific and not at all like an excuse to blame it for our bad beach decisions. Plus, as if one moonfish wasn’t enough, it comes with a free planetary alignment show, perfect for those who like to align things before dawn.
The big moment: Set your clock so you don’t miss what happens every night
According to the modern oracle “Star Walk“, this spectacular celestial function (repetition number 4,723 million) will reach its climax at 07:55 GTM next Saturday. For earthlings in Mexico, that translates into the pleasant hour of 1:00 in the morning, ideal for those who had no plans to sleep anyway. The reassuring note – or one that reveals that this is all a bit of hype – is that the moon “will appear all night before and after.” Wow, almost like it does… every night.
Capturing the Essence of the Sunfish: A Photography Guide for Mortals
To immortalize this event that occurs monthly but this month has a cool name, you will need stable support. A tripod is recommended, mainly to prevent your photos from being as blurry as the explanation of why this moon is so special. For your cell phone, the revolutionary tip is to activate night mode or the mysterious professional camera mode (usually hidden behind an icon that looks like a magician’s hat).
The next step: focus on the moon and decrease exposure. Basically, tell your phone “hey, that thing is shiny, don’t treat it like you’re photographing a charcoal.” If you’re in the club of serious photographers with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, this is your time to shine. Use a telephoto lens to capture fascinating details like craters and shadows (which have been there for eons, but are trendy tonight). The magic recipe: a low ISO (100–400), a medium aperture (f/8) and a shutter speed of 1/125 seconds. Or, do like everyone else and just look up the settings on a YouTube tutorial at 1:05 a.m.
The final tip, and perhaps the most important: activate the timer. This will prevent your phone from shaking in the sheer panic of getting the perfect photo for Instagram, ruining everything by touching the screen with a trembling finger.
Apps to avoid getting lost in the cosmos (or in the application store)
To monitor this and other events that will make you feel small and insignificant, here is a list of applications:
Sky Live: Heavens Above Viewer. Star Walk 2. Guide to the night sky. Sky Tonight: AR Constellations. Constellation Map mobile.
Basically, any app that lets you point your phone at the sky and tells you “yes, that’s a bright spot, that’s a planet” or “that’s a plane, that’s not a UFO.”
Ready to celebrate the fishing heritage of Native American tribes by looking at a giant rock in space? Don’t forget your coat and your sense of irony! And if you get a good photo, share it with the world. After all, what’s the point of witnessing an astronomical event named after a fish if you don’t get likes for it? Share your best captures on social networks and tag us. And if you were left wanting more celestial absurdities, explore our astronomical phenomena section to discover what else they have named it.
