A magnificent August full moon, identified as the ‘Oxyrhynchus Moon’, rose in the sky tonight, while crowds of people rushed to archaeological sites and monuments, as well as beaches, to admire it.
Dozens of cultural sites across the country remained open and with free entry.
The Acropolis and Sounio were filled with people, who rushed to see and photograph the most beautiful moon of the year.
Many other events were planned until midnight on Friday, for those who wanted to combine art with a little – always welcome – romance.
The last full moon of the summer, also called the “Oxyrhynchus Moon,” occurs within 90 percent of perigee, making it a super full moon, according to scientists.
However, this dazzling lunar spectacle is probably not visible everywhere, as it coincides with the Meteor Shower, the Perseid phenomenon.
The super full moon can appear larger and up to 16% brighter in the sky than the average full moon, according to timeanddate.com.
This is the fourth super full moon in a row, following July’s ‘Deer Moon’, June’s ‘Strawberry Moon’ and the ‘Flower Moon’ accompanied by a total lunar eclipse in May. August’s full moon will be the last supermoon of the year, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
According to NASA, the “Oxyrhynchus Moon” got its name from the Native Americans who fished in the Great Lakes at this time of year.
A full moon occurs about once a month, when the sun, Earth, and moon align in an invisible 180-degree line. The moon’s orbit differs from Earth’s by about 5 degrees, so it is usually slightly higher or lower than Earth’s shadow, allowing the sun’s rays to illuminate the side facing Earth.