The final supermoon of 2022 will rise just as the dog days of summer come to a close, but it could have a negative effect on a separate hotly anticipated astronomical event. The conclusion of the dog days of summer will kick off a flurry of astronomical events in the night sky, including two highly-anticipated events unfolding at the same time.
The dog days of summer are more than just a nickname for what is typically the hottest part of the year in the Northern Hemisphere — it also has roots in astronomy. Between July 3 and Aug. 11, the bright star Sirius, also called the Dog Star, is in the same region of the sky as the sun. In ancient times, it was believed that the added starlight from Sirius added to the heat of the day, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. While this ancient theory has been debunked, the phrase has stuck around in the vernacular of forecasters over the years.
However, the dog star might just get shown up by the Sturgeon Moon, as supermoon season is about to come to a close with the third and final one of the year set to rise on Thursday, August 11. August’s full moon is also known as the Sturgeon Moon, the Corn Moon, the Black Cherries Moon and the Mountain Shadows Moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Although supermoons appear slightly bigger and brighter than other full moons, the difference can be difficult to notice with the naked eye. After a string of supermoons in June, July and August, the next one will not rise until July 3, 2023.
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