Finally the sun disappears altogether and then the moon, shining still more brightly, proudly ascends the throne of the sun.
On December 3rd, we all witnessed the Full Cold Moon, the closest and the brightest full moon of 2017. The amazing sky watching event was a treat to the moon-gazers, yet not all were aware of the heralding Supermoon. From time to time, Supermoons make the moon appear a little brighter and closer than normal, although the difference is hard to spot with the naked eye.
What is a Supermoon and how often does it occur?
A Supermoon is a Full Moon or a New Moon that approximately coincides with the closest distance that the Moon reaches to Earth in its elliptical orbit, resulting in a larger-than-usual apparent size of the lunar disk as seen from Earth.
The orbit of the Moon is distinctly elliptical in shape. The non-circular form of the lunar orbit causes variations in the Moons angular speed and the apparent size as it moves towards and away from an observer on Earth. The point of the orbit closest to Earth is called Perigee, while the point farthest from the Earth is known as Apogee. Thus, Perigee and Apogee refer to the distance from the Earth to the Moon. A full moon at Perigee can appear 14 percent larger to viewers on Earth. It can also be 30 percent brighter than other Full Moons.
Hence the answer to the above question lies with where the moon is on its orbit of Earth. Generally, Supermoons occur about every 414 days, but that is just an average count. They can occur several times a year.
When is the next Supermoon?
This time, it kicked off a trilogy of consecutive Supermoons: First was on 3rd December 2017, and the next ones will happen on January 3rd and 31st 2018.
If you can catch only one episode of the Supermoon trilogy, catch the third one as it will be extra special. First of fall, the January 31st Supermoon will feature a total lunar eclipse which will be totally viewable from Western Northern America across the Pacific to Eastern Asia. The moons orbit around our planet is tilted, so it usually falls above or below the shadow of the Earth. About twice each year, a full moon lines up perfectly with the Earth and the Sun such that the Earths shadow totally blocks the Suns light which will normally be reflected off the Moon.
The Lunar Eclipse on January 31st will be visible during moonset, falling under the Eastern United States where the Eclipse will be partial. The Moon will lose its brightness and will take on an eerie but faint hue with a normal glow from the scattered sunlight that makes its way through the Earths atmosphere. As a result, it will cast a reddish hue because the way the atmosphere bends the light.
Totally eclipsed moons are sometimes called the Blood Moon.
Image showing a Full, Partly Eclipsed and Totally Eclipsed Reddish Moon
On January 31st, the Supermoon will also be the second full Moon of the month. Some people call the second full moon in a month, a Blue Moon; that makes its a Super-Blue Moon.
The Supermoons are great opportunities for the people to start looking at the moon, not just once but every chance they have. Its hard for our eyes to distinguish these small changes in size when the moon is high amidst the vastness of the night sky. But anytime you catch a full moon as it rises or sets, while its suspended low on the horizon beaming through the silhouettes of the trees or buildings, its apparent size might make you do a double take.
And this time with a total eclipse, it will be a royal spectacle indeed: a Super-Blue-Blood Moon. Sometimes the celestial rhythm sync up just right to wow us! So dont miss this moment, step out into the Moon rise or Moon set and look up for the trilogy of sky watching treats.
Ankita Dutta is a STORYWEAVER at BYJU?S. Avid reader and writer by day, a classical singer by night, Harry Potter nerd, a film aficionado, and the classroom joker in her yesteryear. Ankita believes that words can influence to a point where they change personalities and ideologies. Wish to contact her about intriguing debates, writing trends and stories? Drop in a mail to storyweavers@byjus.com
Arya C is a 4th grader who talks about her transition from the US to India and how BYJU`S has helped her at that. She also loves how BYJU`S has made learning a lot more fun.
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Comments
Honey
May 6, 2018
Wow it seem and sounds like a good news
Anshuman Dev
May 6, 2018
Wow
Jhanvi Nysa Rao
May 6, 2018
Constantly waiting to see the SUPER – BLUE-BLOOD MOON.
Kajal rai
May 6, 2018
Wow I am very excited to see the beautiful moon??? t
Diptee
May 6, 2018
Great information…..
Sneha
May 6, 2018
Ya I saw the super blue blood moon and it was really a wonderful experience!
Khushleen
May 6, 2018
It was beautiful…
Srishti Verma
May 6, 2018
Yeah.. It was a breathtaking view…. It awed us, totally mesmerizing
Ridhi Golchha
May 6, 2018
Really nice
I didn’t know but truly good news on super moon.
But what is super moon. Is it super man
Jessica
May 6, 2018
It feels Great to explore..something new
Great going byju’s
Mohammed Arshi
May 6, 2018
Good explanation about this part of solar system
Ganap Tewary
May 6, 2018
A good way to learn a bit more about the moon and the universe.
Ganap Tewary
May 6, 2018
Great words about the moon by BYJU`S
Hamna nazar
May 6, 2018
Awsome!!! I came to know a lot about the “bloody” moon!!!!
THANKS BYJUS!! DOING A GREAT JOB!!!!
Numera
May 7, 2018
Nature has made things so beautiful for us
Gayatri
May 7, 2018
Really very useful information. Thank you byju’s.
Janhvi
May 7, 2018
That is quite interesting!!!!!!???
Deepthi
May 7, 2018
Amazing facts
Om dave
May 7, 2018
What are the power of SUPER MOON it is good for us or not
Thasreen
May 7, 2018
Super
Prakhar Sharma
May 7, 2018
Interesting
Vinita kumari
May 7, 2018
Wow… superb
Vatsal gupta
May 7, 2018
I got some more information about supermoon . I am excited to see it.
Nandini.B.C
May 7, 2018
The best learning app I had never seen.I have been using since 1 year it really helps me a lot.Thank u Byjus
DIYA E T
May 7, 2018
Awesome! A very good information . Thanks byjus
Akshat
May 7, 2018
Good news I didn’t know it
Arpita
May 8, 2018
Really?? I thought super moon was superman
At first but now I realize that the super
moon is an amazing thing-SUPER-BLUE-BLOOD-MOON
!!!!!!!!!
Sanjana
May 8, 2018
An interesting article.
Anusmita
May 8, 2018
I love it. I will definitely see the super, red, blue moon ????????
Ankita
May 8, 2018
Its very amazing and a very good
Ankita
May 8, 2018
Very interesting news
Vaishnavi
May 8, 2018
Wow amazing
Harshini
May 9, 2018
Wow
Harshini
May 9, 2018
Wow
Fremi
May 9, 2018
I have seen this sight through telescopic view.
It was amazing experience.
I know this things because I am practical.
Very good and reliable information contained in this website
Bushra fatima
May 10, 2018
Wow wonderful
Keshvi
May 10, 2018
Wow I am happy and excited to see the moon ?
Thejal vibhas
May 11, 2018
Superb ?
Thank you
Byju’s
Psk ramakanth
May 12, 2018
It was a beautiful happening which takes place once in a blue moon
Chandrabala
May 12, 2018
A good article to know about the super moons and the scientific reasons of the occurrence, also their possibilities of occurrence
FARHA
May 14, 2018
Will anyone from anothsr planet be seeing our earth as super earth like this??
aneena
May 16, 2018
wow . it beautifull to saw the moon in the sky that day .i can’t forget that day .becausce the all night i was looking at the sky and witeness the m00n
aneena
May 16, 2018
wow
Anushka Ghosh
May 17, 2018
Wow..it’s so interesting.
Ruqhiya
May 17, 2018
Excellent i am happy and very excited to see the moon?
Aditya Srivastava
May 20, 2018
Wow cannot believe it!!!
tanya
May 21, 2018
this is sounds interesting….??
Kevin
May 21, 2018
It was an awesome message
Bhanu tej
May 23, 2018
Wow the moon is so cool
Anirban Mondal
May 23, 2018
In my language.AWESOME!!!!?????
Adwaith krishna
May 25, 2018
It was amazing………………………
Meghanjali
May 26, 2018
Ohhh I was going to find about that .?and here I got it..
Thanks byju’s??
Anjana
May 30, 2018
Hoo it’s interesting.?
Chandana
June 5, 2018
Wow!it’s really amazing to watch super moon
Priyanshi Jain
June 8, 2018
I didn’t watch it. By this I watch it. It is so beautiful and lovely???????
Sarvani
June 21, 2018
Oh it is really super news