Global Courant
The magical phenomenon of the supermoon is back again this month.
It soared over cities from London to Washington DC as it made the closest pass to Earth during its orbit. This phenomenon makes the moon appear much larger and brighter than usual.
Starting tonight, there will be more chances to see the supermoon. Supermoons are a perfectly normal part of the lunar cycle. This occurs when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth while it is full.
A full moon occurs once in each lunar cycle, which lasts 29.5 days, and its closest point to Earth is about 360,000 kilometers away. That’s because the moon travels in an elliptical path around our house rather than an exact circular one, meaning it’s sometimes closer and sometimes farther away.
Supermoons occur several times a year, with the next expected to occur on August 1st, August 31st and September 29th.
Supermoon over Los Angeles Sunday night. Photo: AP
What do we know about this week’s supermoon?
Because it’s happening in July, it’s known as the Buck Supermoon. This is because each full moon gets a name depending on the month in which it occurs; such as January’s Wolf Moon, February’s Snow Moon, and June’s Strawberry Moon.
Buck Moon gets its name from the deer’s antlers, which grow new at this time of year after shedding their previous pair during the spring. If you didn’t watch it Sunday night or Monday morning, the best time to watch again is tonight.
But it will also be visible for several more nights, as supermoons appear about 14% larger and 30% brighter compared to when a full moon is at its furthest point from Earth.
You won’t need a telescope or any other specialized equipment to see the supermoon, as it can be seen with the naked eye.
Supermoon in Washington
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