Witness the blue supermoon dramatically “swallow” Saturn in an astonishing astrophotography image. On the night of August 20-21, the full “Sturgeon Supermoon” momentarily eclipsed Saturn, dimming the ringed planet’s light from view. An incredible new astrophotography shot captures this rare event from start to finish.
As August’s “Sturgeon Moon,” also a blue supermoon, shone brightly in the sky, some stargazers noticed an unusual sight: Saturn disappearing. In the early hours, the moon completely passed in front of Saturn, hiding its light for over an hour. This rare lunar occultation was visible only in parts of South America, Europe, and Africa. However, if you missed it, astrophotographer Josh Dury captured the entire phenomenon from Somerset, England.
Between 4 and 5:30 a.m. local time (11:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. EDT), Dury compiled 30 shots into a single epic time-lapse, showcasing the lunar occultation in its entirety. Saturn’s rings are visible as it vanishes behind the moon’s northwestern limb, reappearing an hour later. Though the moon and Saturn seem close in the sky, Saturn is actually hundreds of millions of miles farther away, creating a cosmic optical illusion similar to a solar eclipse.
The moon appears especially large and bright now because it’s a supermoon, occurring when a full moon is within 90% of its closest point to Earth, known as perigee. At this point, the moon can appear about 15% larger and noticeably brighter, according to NASA. August’s full moon is the first of four consecutive supermoons, offering skywatchers ample opportunities to enjoy our lunar companion this fall. Grab a pair of binoculars or a small telescope for the best views.
If you missed Saturn’s occultation, you might catch the next one on September 17, depending on your location. This time, the event will be visible from parts of Australia and the western United States, as the moon once again “gobbles up” the ringed planet.
This month has been a busy one for stargazers, featuring vibrant auroras, a planetary conjunction, and the Perseid meteor shower. Just a week ago, Dury also captured dozens of “shooting stars” over Stonehenge, creating another stunning composite image of the night sky.