Incredible Supermoon to Occur Later This Month!

If astronomy interests you, or if you simply enjoy seeing rare things, circle the eve of November 14th on your calendars. An event that hasn't happened in nearly 70 years is set to take place. Not only that, but it won't happen again for many years to come. The Moon will be as close to planet Earth in its orbit (referred to as perigree) as it has been since 1948. That means it will appear very large and bright in the night sky. And it won't be this close to Earth again until 2034, so you don't want to miss it! In fact, it will be roughly 14% larger and 30% brighter than a normal full Moon. That where scientists get the name "Supermoon." However, supermoons are more common than you might think. The reason this one is going to be extra spectacular is because the Moon "becomes full within about two hours of perigee—arguably making it an extra-super moon," according to NASA.

To get the absolute best view of the supermoon, it's important to get away from city centers and light pollution. Also, if you can get to a spot where you can see the Moon rising behind buildings or structures on the horizon, it will create a "Moon illusion." In other words, the Moon will "look" gigantic if you catch it near the horizon behind a tall object. The moon will become full at precisely 8:52 AM on November 14th. That means the view will be nearly identical on both the night of November 13th and 14th.