24-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) The skies above Singapore will be illuminated by the buck moon on July 3, the first of four supermoons that will grace the night sky this year. This natural phenomenon occurs when the full moon orbits closest to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual.
Named after the natural cycle of male deer, known as bucks, that begin growing new antlers during this time of the year, the buck moon will be visible from 7.13pm in the south-east direction. It will reach its optimal height in the sky from 9pm onwards, before beginning its descent in the south-west direction and setting at 7.40am on July 4.
The Science Centre Observatory recommends open public areas such as Marina Barrage, East Coast Park, and the Southern Ridges for an unobstructed view of the moon and the city skyline. However, atmospheric conditions and location can affect the moon’s appearance.
President of National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Astronomical Society, Chen Wei Zhong, advises that a clear view of the moon is all that is required to observe the moon. Visual aids such as binoculars or telescopes can be used to see surface details on the moon’s craters and large-scale terrain.
Other supermoons that will appear this year include the sturgeon moon on August 1, the blue moon on August 31, and the harvest moon on September 29. The buck moon was last seen in Singapore on July 13, 2022, with the first and final supermoons sighted on June 14 and August 11 respectively.
