Rare 'Supermoon' Lights Up Sky: Harvest Moon Eclipse Coming Up

First Posted: Aug 30, 2015 02:14 PM EDT
Close

If you missed the "supermoon" on Saturday night, you shouldn't be too upset. It's just the first of three in the coming weeks.

So what is a supermoon? The term was coined about 30 years ago by astrologer Richard Nolle, according to UPI. Before then, though, they were referred to as perigee full moons or perigee new moons.

These moons appear to be 12 to 14 percent larger than normal and shin about 25 to 30 percent brighter than normal. This is because the moon is actually positioned slightly closer to Earth than normal. They occur when two events line up: a full moon and a perigee. A perigee is when a celestial body, whether it be a moon, planet or comet, reaches its closest point to Earth.

This supermoon may have been the first of the year, but it isn't the only sky event. On Sept. 27, the moon will move across the shadow of Earth and actually cause a total lunar eclipse. In addition, this will be the largest full moon of the year.

Known as the "Harvest Moon," this particular sight will be one that you won't want to miss. This will be the last total lunar eclipse in the tetrad, which is a series of four lunar eclipses in a row. The next tetrad series will be in 2032 and 2033.

Related Stories

Third and Final Supermoon of the Year to Light the Night Skies as a Harvest Moon

Watch the Perseid Meteor Shower Peak Tonight! How to See the Sky Show

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).

See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone

©2017 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.

Join the Conversation

Real Time Analytics