Super Moon vs. Micro Moon
Image Credit &
Copyright:
Catalin Paduraru
What is so super about tomorrow's supermoon?
Tomorrow, a full moon will occur that appears slightly larger and brighter than usual.
The reason is that the Moon's fully illuminated phase occurs within a short time from perigee - when the Moon is its closest to the Earth in its elliptical orbit.
Although the precise conditions that define a
supermoon vary, given one definition, tomorrow's will be the third supermoon of the year -- and the third consecutive month that a supermoon occurs.
One reason
supermoons are popular is because they are so easy to see --
just go outside and sunset and watch an impressive full moon rise!
Since perigee actually occurs today, tonight's sunset
moonrise should also be impressive.
Pictured above, a
supermoon from 2012 is compared to a micromoon -- when a full Moon occurs near the furthest part of the Moon's orbit -- so that it appears smaller and dimmer than usual.
Given many definitions, at least one
supermoon
occurs each year, with the next being 2015 August 30.