3-for-1 lunar spectacle rises tonight with Super Blue Sturgeon Moon

Several stories spin myths about how the Polynesian goddess Hina made the moon her home.

It’s by shear coincidence, but rather fitting, that Hilo is at the center of the outrigger canoe paddling wolrd the IVF World Va’a Sprint Championships 2024 outrigger canoe races this week that one of those tales comes from one of the competing Pacific Island nations.

Tahitian lore says Hina was a canoeist who enjoyed the sport so much that upon sailing to the moon, she found the lunar location so pleasant that she decided to set up permanent shop there.

Hina is said to now watch from her mahina — the Hawaiian word for moon, which contains the goddess’ name — guarding earthly wanderers and tending to all ocean life.

The moon goddess and canoe races are connected another way this year, too. Neither has made an appearance in or over Hilo Bay like they are today for several years.

Get ready, Big Island, for a mahina milestone you don’t want to miss.

Tonight’s moonrise will not only reveal a full moon, but a Supermoon. Not just any Supermoon either. It’s also a seasonal Blue Moon and a Sturgeon Moon.

That’s a three-for-one special Hina is offering for the great price of free. All you have to do is look up to enjoy the rare cosmic event.

It even looks like skies over Hilo will be partly cloudy as the moon rises, so it shouldn’t be difficult to witness the celestial show from town.

Better yet, join the Hawaiian Sanctuary in Pāhoa for an enchanting event from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in honor of the summer’s final full moon with cacao, song and connection?

All the sanctuary asks is that you bring your voice, an instrument or any musical talents you — and your friends and family have — to add to the magic of the night.

“All are welcome — come as you are and let’s create beautiful music together!” said the sanctuary’s Facebook invite.

Entry is just $11 to $22 on a sliding scale. The Hawaiian Sanctuary is located at 13-3194 Pāhoa-Kalapana Road.

Tonight’s full moon is the first of 4 consecutive Supermoons this year.

It will be in the full phase for about 3 days, so if you miss tonight’s super action, you have a little more time.

The next 3 Supermoons will be:

• Sept. 18, Super Harvest Moon.
• Oct. 17, Super Hunter’s Moon.
• Nov. 15, Super Beaver Moon.

The term has been used since 1979 and is used when Earth’s satellite is within 90% of its closest approach to the planet.

Supermoons appear about 30% brighter and 14% larger than normal, but it’s not as easy to see the difference unless you’re an expert moon-gazer.

Sometimes, a Supermoon can even look gigantic because of a phenomenon called a “moon illusion.”

You can try it out yourself tonight. Find a spot to watch the moon as it’s rising on the eastern horizon. That will maximize the illusion, as the effect is a trick of perception that makes the lunar orb look much larger near the horizon than high in the sky.

To answer your question before you ask, no, it won’t look blue because of the illusion or its super-sized closer approach.

The reason it’s a Blue Moon is because it’s the third — and final — full moon in the astronomical summer season, which runs from summer solstice to fall equinox.

Each season typically has 3 full moons, but sometimes they can have an extra. In fact, seasonal Blue Moons are relatively rare, happening in a season every 2.5 to 3 years.

The next seasonal Blue Moon won’t occur until May 20, 2027.

The more popular and better known Blue Moon definition is when there are two full moons in one calendar month, which came about in 1946 when an amateur astronomer misinterpreted the seasonal definition when writing an article for Sky & Telescope magazine.

Calendrical Blue Moons might happen somewhat more often than their seasonal cousins, they are not the same worldwide. The next calendrical Blue Moon will be May 31, 2026.

Some also think the Blue Moon moniker could refer to those even more rare instances when dust in the Earth’s atmosphere gives the moon a bluish tint. It happened in the early 1880s after a massive eruption of Krakatoa volcano in Indonesia.

Brittanica says the term originated in the 16th century expression “the moon is blue, ” meaning something that was impossible. You know, like we say, “Once in a Blue Moon.”

The first recorded used of “Blue Moon” in the English language dates back to 1528.

Rounding out her super blue soirée tonight, like her paddler friends here for the outrigger races, Hina is adding a more global and cultural touch.

Another of tonight’s full moon’s names is the Sturgeon Moon.

It gets this name from Algonquin tribes, the indigenous people who lived in the northeastern part of the mainland, and fished the fresh waters of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.

Giant lake sturgeon were abundant in the late summer. The fish were an important staple for the tribes. They are rarer in the lake waters today.

Algonquin tribes referred to the August full moon as the Sturgeon Moon because the fish were more easily caught during this time of the year.

The Cree, an indigenous people from Canada, call it the Flying Up Moon to describe the time when young birds take the leap and learn to fly.

The indigenous North American Algonquin and Ojibwe tribes also referred to it as the Corn Moon, the Dakota people called it the Harvest Moon and the Anishinaabe tribe gave it the moniker of Ricing Moon all to signify that it’s time to gather maturing crops.

The Assiniboine people of the North American Great Plains named it the Black Cherris Moon because this time is when chokecherries ripen.

In India, the August full moon coincides with Raksha Bandhan, or Rakhi Purnima. The festival celebrates the bond between siblings. It also matches up with Israel’s version of Valentine’s Day called Tu B’Av, celebrating love and togetherness.

Plus, it is a significant event in lunar calendars around the globe as it falls in the middle of the seventh month in the Chinese Year of the Dragon, Safar in the Islamic calendar and Av in the Hebrew calendar.

Additional names for this month’s full moon include the Red Moon, Green Corn Moon, Barley Moon, Herb Moon, Grain Moon and Dog Moon.

The Sturgeon Moon even gives a nod to science fiction fans.

Author Theodore Sturgeon’s scripts for “Star Trek” introduced important concepts for the series, including the Vulcan hand symbol for “live long and prosper” and the “Prime Directive.”

Moonrise is at 7:10 p.m. today, so find a good spot to observe this extra special lunar event.

It’s the perfect time to appreciate the cultural, astronomical and even literary connections that make it so unique.

Plus, how often do we have this good of weather in East Hawai‘i to see the sky from sea level?

“Whether you’re planning to gaze up at the Supermoon, celebrate Raksha Bandhan with your siblings or read a bit of Theodore Sturgeon’s work, this celestial event offers something for everyone,” said an article at MoneyControl.com. “Don your celestial-themed attire, keep an eye on the sky and enjoy this unique moment in our lunar calendar.”