Supermoon tonight: How and where to view the lunar event
As night falls later stargazers will get the chance to glimpse the first of this month’s two supermoons.
The lunar phenomenon happens when a full moon is near its closest point to Earth, making it appear up to 14% bigger and 30% brighter compared with when it is furthest away.
Rising in the east at a distance of some 222,159 miles (357,530km), the supermoon will be visible shortly after sunset from around 9pm onwards – cloud cover depending.
Read more: How does the August supermoon happen, how close is it to earth and what is a blue moon?
It will be best seen from areas with darker skies and limited light pollution.
While visible to the naked eye, using a small telescope or a pair of binoculars will provide the opportunity to view the moon’s surface in greater detail.
Tuesday night’s event is called a sturgeon moon – nothing to do with the former SNP leader but the fish – because of their abundance historically in August when they were caught by Native Americans.
And there is a double treat in store because there will be another supermoon on 31 August.
Because it is the second full moon in the same month, it is known as a blue moon.
Occurring only every three years or so it gives rise to the expression “once in a blue moon”.
It will be even closer on that date at a distance of 222,043 miles (357,344km).
This compares with a distance of about 252,088 miles (405,696km) when the moon is at its furthest point from Earth.
Read more:
Pictures from the July supermoon
The last supermoon was in July
How can I see the supermoon?
Royal Museums Greenwich said: “So long as there’s not too much cloud, the full moon will be an unmistakable white orb in the sky.
“This is a good opportunity to use a small telescope or a pair of binoculars to see the moon’s detailed surface, or even try taking a few interesting moon photos.
“However, you can see the moon perfectly well with just your eyes. Seeing moonrise just after sunset, or moonset just before sunrise, will be an impressive sight as it will appear enormous compared to the surrounding landscape.”
Lunar cycle
A full moon happens once in each lunar cycle, which lasts 29.5 days.
As the moon travels in an elliptical path around the Earth, rather than a circular one, there are times when it is closer than others.
The last time two full supermoons appeared in the same month was in 2018 – and it won’t happen again until 2037, according to Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.
This year’s first supermoon was in July, while the fourth and last will be in September.
The reason for moons being given different names – such as the sturgeon moon – stretches back in time and relates to the behaviour of the plants, animals, or weather that month.
Those chosen have generally been attributed to Native American tribes.
UK
Man jailed for more than three years for loading illegal streaming services on to Amazon Fire Sticks
A 29-year-old man has been jailed for more than three years for loading illicit TV streaming services onto Amazon Fire Sticks.
Jonathan Edge, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act.
He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, which included a separate concurrent sentence of two years and three months for accessing and viewing the content he was supplying.
Edge ran a service uploading illegal services to Fire Stick devices in return for cash-in-hand payments at his home, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
He used Facebook advertising and word-of-mouth recommendations to run his operation.
He ignored multiple warnings about the illegal activity, which were referenced by the judge and treated as an aggravating factor in sentencing.
The prosecution was undertaken by the Premier League and supported by several other organisations, including FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and Merseyside Police.
Kevin Plumb, Premier League general counsel, said: “The significant sentence handed down to the individual involved once again serves to highlight the severity of his actions.
“We will continue to pursue legal action against those supplying unauthorised access to Premier League football, regardless of the scale or mode of operation. Ignoring warnings to stop only served to make the consequences worse for the individual.”
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Detective Sergeant Steve Frame from Merseyside Police said: “Merseyside Police is committed to working in collaboration to investigate intellectual property theft and we welcome today’s sentence handed to Edge.
“Many people see no harm in illegally streaming TV services but they are wrong, and this outcome should serve as a further warning how seriously such copyright theft continues to be taken.”
UK
Magic Circle on the hunt for first female member who tricked her way into society – to apologise to her
The Magic Circle is on the hunt for its first female member – who deceived the group by disguising herself as a man to enter its ranks – so it can apologise to her.
Sophie Lloyd hid her true identity from the famous society of magicians for 18 months.
Dressing up as a young man, Ms Lloyd fooled both the examiners and the Circle’s council and even went out for a drink with them.
However, she was expelled when the deception was revealed and the group hasn’t heard from her since.
At the time Ms Lloyd joined, women weren’t allowed to join the Circle. But when the rules changed in October 1991, Ms Lloyd revealed her true identity and was promptly kicked out for deceiving the society.
But now the group is trying to track her down, so it can apologise.
President of the Magic Circle Marvin Berglas told Sky News: “Times have changed.
“Back in the day she caused the ultimate deception of fooling the magicians and the council which is quite something.
“We’re trying to welcome Sophie back because it’s such a great story.”
He added: “Being that she was such a pioneer we would love to find her, get her side of the story and honour her.”
President of the Magic Circle Marvin Berglas
Mr Berglas said magic wasn’t “an old boy’s club” anymore and that around 5% of its members were women.
It’s thought Ms Lloyd had been an actress, and her name might have been Sue Lloyd, he added.
It’s possible Ms Lloyd received training from magician Jenny Winstanley, who had wanted to be the first woman in the Magic Circle, but was, Mr Berglas said, likely too well known to enter in disguise.
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Ms Lloyd in disguise (left) and her true self (right). Pic: David Sillitoe/The Guardian/eyevine
Mr Berglas continued: “We know she was in the Coventry, Warwickshire, Leamington Spa area.
“We would like to apologise for our faux pas.”
Actor Timothy West has died peacefully in his sleep aged 90, “with his friends and family at the end”.
He was known for many roles in television and the theatre, including popular soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders.
Husband to 92-year-old Prunella Scales – who played Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers – the pair travelled together on UK and overseas canals in the Channel 4 series Great Canal Journeys.
His children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West, said in a statement issued by his agent: “After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old.
“Tim was with friends and family at the end. He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly.
“We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George’s Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days.”
West with his wife, Prunella Scales. Pic: Geoff Pugh/Shutterstock
He was the winner of an RTS television award for his lead role in Churchill And The Generals, released in 1979, according to imdb.com.
In his career, he played Winston Churchill three times, including in The Last Bastion (1984) and in Hiroshima (1995).
West was also nominated for best actor in the 1976 BAFTAs for his part as Edward VII in the historical drama.
Four years later, he was nominated in the same category for a number of roles, including as best actor in Crime And Punishment.
West (right) in BBC drama, Last Tango In Halifax. Pic: PA
After a small part as Eric Babbage in Coronation Street in 2013, West appeared in 2014 for the first time as Stan Carter in EastEnders.
He also held other popular TV roles, such as in BBC comedy-drama Last Tango In Halifax.
West as King Lear during a 2003 English Touring Theatre production of William Shakespeare’s tragedy. Pic: PA
In the long-running BBC comedy, Not Going Out, he played Geoffrey, the father of Lucy Adams, played by Sally Bretton.
In comedy-drama Brass, he was the ruthless self-made businessman Bradley Hardacre, playing the role from 1982 to 1984 before returning for a third series in 1990.
In 2019, the Bradford-born actor played Private Godfrey in Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes, a recreation of three missing episodes of the BBC comedy Dad’s Army.
He was also a regular performer of Shakespeare, playing Lear in 2016 and 2002.
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