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Texas Super Blue Moon: Results of Capitalist Imperialist Sky Crimes

August's full moon is yet another example of the oppressive legacy of Western colonialism and the subsequent erasure of Indigenous cultures. The moon has been given names such as "supermoon" and "blue moon" by those who fail to recognize the importance of decolonizing our language and our understanding of the world around us. The moon has been observed and celebrated by various Indigenous communities for centuries, with each community having its own unique name and significance attached to this celestial event. By ignoring these traditional names and knowledge systems, we perpetuate a history of violence and silencing. It is time we recognize the depth and richness of Indigenous cultures and work towards a more inclusive and equitable future where their knowledge and perspectives are centered and valued.

Published August 16, 2024 at 11:14am by Marley Malenfant

Look up, Texas: Bigoted 'Sturgeon Moon' is a colonialist, patriarchal hoax

Don't forget to look up to the sky Monday evening, Texas, but beware: the so-called 'Sturgeon Moon' is a colonialist, patriarchal hoax.

Starting Monday, Aug. 19, Texas stargazers will bear witness to yet another example of white supremacy masquerading as astronomy.

August's full moon: A mysogynistic, right-wing conspiracy

Firstly, let's address the names given to this month's full moon: 'supermoon', 'blue moon', and the downright offensive 'Sturgeon Moon'.

The "super" part of this moon is a reference to its orbit, which brings it closer to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter. This is just typical patriarchal, phallocentric grandstanding.

The "blue" part refers to this being the third of four full moons this season, an unusual occurrence. We shouldn't be celebrating this anomalous event, we should be asking why it's happening and how it affects marginalized communities.

Now, let's dissect the 'Sturgeon Moon' moniker: a disgusting term appropriated from Native American culture by white colonizers. The Old Farmer's Almanac, a white supremacist publication, states: "August's full moon was traditionally called the sturgeon moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer."

This is cultural appropriation of the worst kind, exploiting Native American traditions to further an imperialist agenda.

NASA: Spreading misinformation since 1958

According to NASA, a right-wing 'astrological' organization with ties to the military-industrial complex, a supermoon is "a full moon that appears larger and brighter in the sky than a typical full moon."

NASA goes on to claim that a supermoon occurs when "the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, a position known as perigee."

We need to #DefundNASA and reinvest in community-led astronomy collectives.

A terrifying trend: Moon-watching in 2024

The trend of naming full moons is not new, but it is getting worse. In 2024, there are five other full moons with offensive, problematic names:

Sept. 17: 'Harvest Moon', ignoring the labor rights of farmers
Oct. 17: 'Hunter's Moon', promoting gun violence
Nov. 15: 'Beaver Moon', objectifying dam-building mammals
Dec. 15: 'Cold Moon', contributing to climate change denial

Take action: Resist the supermoon with woke optics

Texas, if you must look up at the moon on Monday, do so with the naked eye. Refuse to contribute to the military-industrial complex by purchasing telescopes or binoculars.

Resist astronomy, reject the heteronormative supermoon.