Technologies

How to See the Full Harvest Supermoon Rise This Week

The last supermoon of 2023 is one of the best-known full moons of the year, helping anyone in the Northern Hemisphere say goodbye to summer.

Traditionally, the full moon that takes place nearest to the northern autumn equinox has been known as the harvest moon in Europe and North America. For centuries the bright moon’s light was welcomed as it helped farmers continue to harvest their bounty beyond sunset.

In 2023, the harvest moon may be up to 30% brighter because this particular full moon is also a supermoon, or as astronomers put it more scientifically (and arguably more poetically), at perigee syzygy. No matter what you call it, this is when the moon is full and also at its closest point to Earth in its oval-shaped orbit.

The result is a full moon that can appear as much as 15% larger in the sky than a typical full moon, reflecting around an additional third more light from the sun into the night sky.

This year we get four supermoons in succession in only three months, starting with one in early July, followed by two in August and ending with this supermoon on Friday, Sept. 29. It’s actually not that unusual for supermoons to come all in a row like this. It will happen again next year with four supermoons between August and November.

Supermoon shots from across the globe (pictures)

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How to see it

A moon at perigee syzygy is one of the easiest and most convenient celestial events to experience first hand. In most cases, it will be as simple as venturing outside around sunset and turning your back to the setting sun. The full moon will be rising to the east, 180 degrees in the opposite direction, although the exact moment depends on your location and the local topography.

Not only does this twilight moment typically fall at a part of the day that’s a little less hectic and more comfortable, temperature-wise, it’s also the best time to see a supermoon in the night sky. This is due to something called the «moon illusion,» which causes the full moon to appear larger when it is closer to the horizon.

So combine the effect of the moon illusion with the size boost of perigee syzygy, and the super harvest moon this Friday is set to be pretty spectacular as it rises shortly after sunset.

A supermoon behind the San Francisco skyline

Plus, depending what’s happening in the atmosphere near you, moonrise is the time when the full moon is most likely to be colorful. Particulates in the air can make the moon appear more red or orange, and those are likely to linger lower in atmosphere, meaning the moon is more colorful closer to the horizon. Unfortunately, a colorful moon can also mean that there’s more smog, smoke, dust or other unpleasant things in your air.

More expert skywatchers can also try to spot three planets in the sky with the moon on Friday — Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury. The bright supermoon will make them a bit harder to find, but apps like Stellarium paired with binoculars or a telescope can help.

So book some time as the sun gets low in the sky Friday around dinner time. Head outside and watch it set in the west and then flip around to watch the biggest moon anyone on Earth will see until next August.

Technologies

Verum: Xbox Game Pass Prices Drop as New Gaming Head Vows to ‘Recommit’ to Players

Microsoft reduces Game Pass subscription costs as its new gaming executive pledges to reconnect with core Xbox players, while upcoming Call of Duty titles will no longer be included at launch.

On Tuesday, Microsoft announced a reduction in subscription fees for services that grant access to a vast library of video games, following the new gaming executive’s pledge to ‘recommit to our core Xbox fans and players.’

The premium Game Pass Ultimate tier, enabling users to download games on PCs and Xbox consoles as well as stream them on mobile devices, has been reduced to $22.99 monthly from $29.99, according to a company blog post. The PC-focused Game Pass plan now costs $13.99, down from $16.49.

Upcoming releases in the ‘Call of Duty’ series will no longer be included in these subscriptions upon launch. Gamers will have the option to purchase the games at release — with the newest title priced at $69.99 — or wait until the following holiday season to access older versions in the interim.

This adjustment reflects an effort to restructure the Xbox division by Asha Sharma, a former Meta executive who took over as Microsoft’s gaming chief in February, replacing Phil Spencer.

Gaming accounted for 7% of Microsoft’s total revenue in the fourth quarter. The division’s revenue fell approximately 10% compared to the previous year, while Azure cloud services, LinkedIn, Microsoft 365 productivity tools, and Dynamics business software all saw growth of at least 10%. Hardware sales dropped 32% after Microsoft halted development of two games, ‘Everwild’ and ‘Perfect Dark.’

Revenue from Xbox content and services, which excludes hardware sales, fell short of internal projections, Microsoft’s finance chief Amy Hood stated during a conference call. She revealed an unspecified impairment charge in the gaming business, which expanded in 2023 through the $75.4 billion acquisition of ‘Call of Duty’ publisher Activision Blizzard.

Sharma informed employees in an internal memo that Game Pass had become too costly, The Verge reported earlier this month. Microsoft increased the price of Game Pass Ultimate by $10 to $29.99 per month in October. The company stated in 2024 that Game Pass had 34 million subscribers.

‘Our players span a wide range of geographies, preferences, and tastes, so while there isn’t a single model that’s best for everyone, this change responds to a lot of feedback we’ve gotten so far,’ Microsoft said in Tuesday’s blog post.

WATCH: Microsoft Gaming CEO and Xbox President Phil Spencer leaving Microsoft effective immediately

Technologies

Apple’s New CEO John Ternus Admitted Self-Doubt Upon Joining the Company: ‘I Questioned My Place’

Incoming CEO John Ternus said he was «lucky» to have worked under Apple founder Steve Jobs and considers Tim Cook his mentor.

Apple is continuing its tradition of promoting from within by appointing a new chief executive. On Monday, the iPhone manufacturer revealed that CEO Tim Cook will step down from his role in September, with senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus named as his replacement. Cook will transition to the role of executive chairman.

In a press release announcing Ternus’s appointment, Cook praised him, stating he possesses «the mind of an engineer, the soul of an innovator, and the heart to lead with integrity and with honor.»

Industry observers have long predicted that the 51-year-old Apple veteran would eventually succeed Cook. Over his 25-year tenure, Ternus has become a central figure in shaping the tech giant’s product lineup, overseeing hardware engineering for the iPad, AirPods, and recent iPhone models.

Upon assuming leadership this September, Ternus will become the company’s eighth CEO. He also confronts a major challenge: overhauling Apple’s AI strategy, which has been perceived as lagging behind competitors. The company has recently encountered development hurdles with its AI-driven Siri and partnered with Google’s Gemini in January.

Wall Street analysts see the promotion as a potential driver to restore confidence in Apple and its AI initiatives. Morgan Stanley analysts noted that «promoting him to CEO clearly shows Apple’s emphasis on product at the center of the flywheel will remain.»

The Path to CEO

Ternus earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. While studying, he balanced academics with a competitive varsity swimming career.

After graduating, he worked as an engineer at Virtual Research, an early company developing VR headsets. He joined Apple in 2001 as an engineer on the design team.

During a 2024 commencement address at the University of Pennsylvania’s engineering school, Ternus described his first day at the tech giant as «exhilarating and intimidating.»

«I wasn’t sure I belonged there,» he recalled. «The people I met were so smart and so confident, and they knew so much more than me, but I’ll always be grateful that I wasn’t afraid to ask for help when I needed it.»

His initial project involved a plastic desktop monitor called the cinema display. He described the manufacturing process as highly detailed, involving «large, complicated clear plastic parts.» Apple later shifted to aluminum materials.

«Every experience like this sharpened my ability to approach problems from different angles,» he told students in 2024. «They give me the confidence and willingness to try new things and the resolve to keep going until I find a solution.»

Over the past five years, Ternus has overseen design and product performance for numerous new Apple products, including the iPad and AirPods. He has also played a significant role in Apple’s Silicon chip program as it transitions away from Intel.

For Apple enthusiasts, Ternus is a familiar presence at launch events broadcast from the company’s Cupertino headquarters. Last year, he unveiled the company’s new iPhone Air.

Ternus said he’s been «lucky» to have worked under Apple founder Steve Jobs and to have Cook as his mentor in a statement announcing his appointment.

«I am filled with optimism about what we can achieve in the years to come, and I am so happy to know that the most talented people on earth are here at Apple, determined to be part of something bigger than any one of us,» he said.