The Supermoon: A Closer Look at Lunar Magic
What is a Supermoon?
A Supermoon occurs when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth (also called Perigee) during its full moon or new moon phase. When a full moon happens near perigee, it appears up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a regular full moon, making it a visually striking celestial event.
Here is what the difference between a Supermoon Full Moon and a regular Full Moon looks like
Why do Supermoons occur?
Because the Moon’s orbit is elliptical, its distance from Earth varies.
While Supermoon Full Moons are easily noticeable in the night sky, Supermoon New Moons are invisible to the naked eye but still influence Earth’s tides more significantly due to the Moon’s increased gravitational pull.
Suppermoons Timeline
Not sure if there is a pattern for when Supermoons occur but it looks like they are primarily Full Moons. Here is what this pattern looks like for the period of 2015 to 2030:
See more Moon related data stories: