When the orbit of our satellite is closer to Earth (perigee) and at the same time it is full, what is known as a “supermoon” occurs.
But what makes it super? Although it is a subtle effect to our eyes, the full Moon appears larger and brighter in the sky.
It is June 14th there will be a supermoon in the sky and in Cocuyo effect We explain what this astronomical event is about.
NASA Quick Facts
The full Moon has received so many names and colors that the US space agency NASA has a section for clarification:
- Names such as “Strawberry Moon” or “Worm Moon” are due to aboriginal cultures that, depending on the time, gave it a nickname to keep track of the seasons and months because there was no calendar.
- It also doesn’t change color. A “blue” full Moon refers to a second full Moon in a month, something that usually happens every two and a half years, not turning blue.
The Moon orbits Earth in an ellipse, an oval that moves it closer to and farther from Earth as it rotates.
- The furthest point on that ellipse is called the apogee and is, on average, about 405,500 kilometers from Earth.
- The closest point is perigee, at an average distance of approximately 363,300 kilometers from Earth.
Where did the name supermoon come from?
It was coined in 1979 to basically define what astronomers know as a Perigee Full Moon: the full Moon that occurs when the satellite is at its closest point to Earth.
What to expect from the supermoon?
Size
As with anything that gets close to the person viewing it, the supermoon will appear larger than an average full moon. But this means that, at its most visible, it can appear 14% larger in diameter than the smaller full Moon.
Brightness
The full moon is bright and the supermoon is even brighter. This is because the sunlight reflecting off the Moon during its full phase is bright enough to cast shadows on the ground. During a supermoon, that brightness can increase by up to 30 percent as a result of the Moon being closer to Earth.
In this month of June, we will be able to observe a supermoon that they have also called “Strawberry Moon” from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15.
But the best viewing will happen the next night, June 14. That night, according to LiveSciencethe Moon can be seen up to 16% brighter than other nights.