We will be able to enjoy the August full moon, or the "Oxyrhynchus Full Moon" tonight in the sky. According to NASA, the August moon looks full as early as Sunday night, which means that in total we will enjoy the image of the full moon for consecutive nights.
Why is it called "Moon of Oxyrhynchus"
This full moon is known as the "Oxyrhynchus Full Moon" in honor of the Native Americans. The Old Farmer's Almanac, which first began publishing the names of full moons in the 1930s, states that the August full moon was named "Moon of Oxyrhynchus” because of the endemic Great Lakes and Lake Champlain freshwater “cod” fish – easily caught during this time of summer. Fish was a staple food source for the Native Americans who lived in the area.
The first "supermoon" of 2024
This full moon is even referred to as a "super full moon", as the moon will appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter, compared to a normal full moon. Also, this particular one is the first of four consecutive "super full moons" that will occur this year (August, September, October, November).
The term "super full moon" was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 as a new or full moon that occurs when the Moon is at 90% of its closest approach to Earth.
With information from documentonews.gr