6 days ago
Check out tonight's full moon and send us your pics
Check out tonight's full moon and send us your pics
Skywatchers in eMalahleni are in for a celestial treat tonight, as July's Full Buck moon promises a spectacular view.
The sky will be clear, and the full moon will reach its peak brightness around midnight.
In America, it is called Buck Moon because this time of the year, male deer's antlers reach full size.
Antlers help bucks attract a mate and defend themselves.
Every year, bucks repeat a cycle of growth and shedding of these multipurpose tools. Once they shed, smaller animals even chew on them to get their needed calcium.
But in South Africa, we do things differently. Even the names of the full moons have a proudly South African touch.
'With every full moon, we're inviting you to celebrate something special about South Africa, to revel in our shared heritage and to remember that we're together under one sky,' is the core message from the Centre for Astronomical Heritage (CfAH).
The centre identified 23 concepts – one for each first full moon in a calendar month, plus one for a possible second full moon – representing proudly South African.
In line with this, tonight's moon is referred to as Meerkat Moon, and the second full moon for July is referred to as Protea Moon.
'This cooperative community existence is key to the survival of the meerkats, perhaps reflecting a glimmer of Ubuntu,' was the explanation on CfAH's website.
On the website, it is also explained that the second moon for July is referred to as the Protea Moon, as it has adapted to overcome wildfires and regenerate its growth, making it the ideal symbol of the resilience of South African culture and national values.
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