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Credit & Copyright: åenol åanlä"
Explanation:
What was so super about Wednesday's supermoon?
Last week, a full moon occurred that appeared
slightly larger and brighter than usual.
The reason is that
the Moon's fully illuminated
phase
occurred within a short time from
perigee - when the Moon was its closest to the Earth in its
elliptical orbit.
Although the precise conditions that define a supermoon vary, last
Wednesday's supermoon was surely the closest, largest, and brightest
full moon this year.
One reason
supermoons
are popular is because they are so easy to see -- just go outside at
sunset and watch an impressive full moon rise!
Pictured here, Wednesday's supermoon is compared to April's micro moon --
when a
full Moon occurs near the furthest part of the Moon's orbit --
so that it appears slightly smaller and dimmer than usual.
Given many definitions, at least one
supermoon occurs each year, with another one coming next month (moon-th).
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: full moon
Publications with words: full moon
See also: