La NASA has selected as the astronomical image of the day to illustrate the rare and particular phenomenon of Blue supermoon the photos of Sicilian photographers and astophiles Kevin Zaragoza e Gianni Tumino.
NASA and photos of the Supermoon
The US space agency NASA, to illustrate the Supermoon and Blue Supermoon of last August 30th, one of most spectacular astronomical phenomena to attend, chose two shots taken by two Sicilian photographers from Syracuse and Ragusa, both belonging to theUnione Astrofili Italiani. This is the phenomenon of the 'full moon at perigee', a full moon that occurs at the moment of maximum proximity between the Moon and the Earth.
The two representations of the phenomenon were chosen as the astronomical image of the day as "Astronomy pictures of the Day" (Apod). The images both portray the Supermoon show staged in this 2023 twice in August, on 1 and 30.
NASA Recognition
Here is the explanation of NASA's recognition:
“The last full moon was doubly unusual. First, it was a blue moon. According to the modern definition, a blue moon is the second full moon to occur in a calendar month. Since there are 2023 full moons in 13, a month must have two, and that month was August. The first full moon occurred on August 1 and was called the Sturgeon Moon. The second reason the last full moon was unusual is that it was a supermoon. A modern definition of a supermoon is that of a moon that reaches its full phase when it is relatively close to Earth, and therefore appears somewhat larger and brighter than average. In the photo, the Super Blue Moon of 2023 was captured hovering behind a historic castle and lighthouse in Syracuse, Sicily, Italy.”
The photo of Gianni Tumino from Ragusa
Tumino from Ragusa is the author of the photo taken on August 1st, taken in the countryside of Cozzo Rose in Modica, in the province of Ragusa. The photographer captured the sequence of August's first full moon rising above the dense cloud banks along the horizon. The site from which the photo was taken is very suggestive because it allows a 360-degree observation of astronomical phenomena.
The photo of Kevin Saragozza from Syracuse
The Syracusan Kevin Zaragoza he is the author of the second shot that immortalizes the phenomenon, realized between 30 and 31 August from Maniace Castle in Syracuse, one of the symbols of the city. The blue Moon rises above the lighthouse (now owned by the Air Force) and is the second Super-moon of August and 2023. It was created from via Elorina, one of the main streets of the Sicilian city.
It is the third time that NASA has chosen a photo of Kevin Zaragoza as Apod.
An acknowledgment for the splendid shots taken by Italian photographers who will travel all over the world.
