Good morning. Today we'll look at what makes tonight's full moon especially special. |
 | | Seth Wenig/Associated Press |
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At 7:44 tonight, a full moon will rise. And this is not one to miss. |
It's a full moon and a "super moon," which means that it will look a little bigger and shine a little brighter. (That's because it is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit.) That is already rare: There are usually only one or two super moons a year, said Matt O'Dowd, the chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department at Lehman College. |
And it's a "blue" moon, which usually is defined as the second full moon of the month. That's rarer, hence the expression. Dr. O'Dowd said blue moons only come around every three years or so. |
But a super blue moon? That's a trifecta. The next one is in January 2037, according to NASA. |
New York City loves its astronomical events. Crowds fill the streets during Manhattanhenge, when the sun appears to set precisely along the island's broad avenues, illuminating the streets in pink and gold. During a solar eclipse in 2021, dozens of people paid $114.81 each to watch from the Empire State Building. Some arrived at 4:30 a.m. |
But although this super blue moon is rare, it is not actually a big deal, astronomers said. At least not from a scientific perspective. |
"The blueness does nothing for the appearance," Dr. O'Dowd said. |
Super moons appear a little bigger and often seem a little brighter. But not by much, astronomers said. "It might be also good to manage expectations," said Josh Tan, an assistant professor of astronomy and physics at LaGuardia Community College. |
Emily Rice, an astrophysicist at Macaulay Honors College, agreed: The moon will look bigger, but not by much. |
"Astronomers have always got to buzzkill something," she said, adding, "After we're done with horoscopes and the Zodiac," it's the super moon's turn. |
The moon itself is already a wonder to behold. If a super blue moon gets people to pause, look up and revel, so be it. |
"It does look amazing, this giant rock hanging in the sky," Dr. O'Dowd said. |
New Yorkers do not need to leave the city to view the super blue moon. |
"You don't need to be any place that's super dark — because it's the moon," said Kat Troche, the vice president of operations for the Amateur Astronomers Association. "It's not going to be hard to spot." |
But light pollution makes other astrological events, like asteroid showers, nearly impossible to see within New York City. The dim orange-purple glow of our night skies affects everything from fireflies to migrating birds, which sometimes die flying into reflective windows. |
A study, published this year, found that light pollution had increased by 9.6 percent annually between 2011 and 2022. And in 2016, researchers found that 80 percent of people in North America can barely see the Milky Way. |
"As New Yorkers, we have a difficult time enjoying astronomical phenomena — like the super moon — because of light pollution," said State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who introduced the Dark Skies Protection Act last year, a measure to limit outdoor lighting. "It shouldn't be a luxury to gaze into the sky." |
She and others will be near the Community Garden after 7 p.m. Some are bringing their own telescopes, as they do with other astronomer gatherings across the city. If you go, they will teach you how to use the sensitive equipment. |
Then, they'll encourage you to look up at the cosmos. |
If you want to strike out on your own, see if you can borrow a telescope from the public library. Astronomers suggest looking for any place facing east, to see the moon rise above the surface of the earth. |
The city's parks department — and professional and amateur astronomers — offered suggestions for viewing spots in all five boroughs. |
- In the Bronx: Try the Parade Ground at Van Cortlandt Parks or Orchard Beach, or City Island.
- In Brooklyn: You could join the Amateur Astronomers at Floyd Bennett Field. Or, try the pier at Coney Island. Or lie in the open spaces of Prospect Park.
- Manhattan: Central Park is an obvious choice — although the skies are bright. If you go, try the Great Hill. Or head north to Dyckman Ballfields, in Inwood Hill Park. Ms. Troche suggested Carl Schurz Park, to see the moon rise over Queens.
- On Staten Island: Try the Lemon Creek pier or Great Kills Park.
- Queens: Parks officials suggested Fort Totten Park, until 10 p.m. Or, sit on Rockaway Beach and watch the moon rise over the water.
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"You don't need a telescope," Ms. Troche said. "You don't even need binoculars. You just need clear skies." |
Wherever you go, bring bug spray, snacks and a comfortable seat. Settle down. Lock in. Take a moment to let the splendor fill you up. |
Prepare for a muggy day with showers, fog and a high near 85. At night, it will be partly cloudy, with temps dropping into the mid-60s. |
In effect until Monday (Labor Day). |
 | | Dakota Santiago for The New York Times |
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- Road to recovery: Catherine Arias was shot in the head last January. Now 2, she still requires therapy five days a week.
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During an early morning walk in Brooklyn Bridge Park with my daughter Ella, I spotted a blue soccer ball on the sidewalk adjacent to the turf fields on Pier 5. |
A quick look around the area did not reveal any players who might have kicked a ball so far out of bounds. Ella asked if we could keep the ball and, after a brief moral dilemma, I picked it up and brought it with us. |
When we got home, I cleaned the ball with a wipe in the kitchen sink. When I did, I discovered a name and number in faded marker. I texted the number, explained that we had found the ball and offered to return it. |
"Keep it," the reply text said. "My kids lost that ball seven years ago at that field. They're all grown up and no longer need it. I hope your daughter enjoys it as much as they did." |
Glad we could get together here. My colleague Dodai Stewart will be here tomorrow. — A.N. |
| Bernard Mokam and Ed Shanahan contributed to New York Today. You can reach the team at nytoday@nytimes.com. |
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