What is a supermoon?

A supermoon is a full or new moon that occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth. This means the moon appears larger and brighter in the sky than it usually does, which is why it is called a supermoon.

The technical name for a supermoon is a "perigee full moon" or "perigee new moon," depending on whether it is a full moon or a new moon. Perigee refers to the point in the moon's elliptical orbit when it is closest to Earth.

Supermoons happen a few times a year, and because they are visually stunning, they have become a popular event to observe and photograph. While they are not rare, they are a great opportunity for people who enjoy astronomy and photography to enjoy the beauty of the night sky.

A supermoon is a full moon or new moon that occurs when the Moon is at or near its closest point to Earth in its orbit. This makes the Moon appear slightly larger and brighter than usual. Supermoons occur about once a year.

The Moon's orbit around Earth is not a perfect circle. It is slightly elliptical, which means that the Moon's distance from Earth varies throughout its orbit. The Moon's closest point to Earth is called perigee, and its farthest point is called apogee.

When the Moon is at perigee, it is about 225,622 miles (363,300 kilometers) from Earth. When the Moon is at apogee, it is about 252,712 miles (405,500 kilometers) from Earth.

The difference in distance between perigee and apogee is about 26,090 miles (42,200 kilometers). This means that the Moon's apparent size in the sky can vary by about 14% between perigee and apogee.

Supermoons are not new. They have been happening for centuries. However, the term "supermoon" was first coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.

Nolle defined a supermoon as a full moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90% of its perigee distance from Earth. This definition is still used today by some people.

However, other people use a different definition of supermoon. They define a supermoon as any full moon that occurs within 225,622 miles (363,300 kilometers) of Earth. This definition is more inclusive and includes more supermoons than Nolle's definition.

No matter which definition you use, supermoons are a beautiful sight to behold. If you have the chance to see a supermoon, I encourage you to do so. It is an experience you will never forget.