Supermoon Lights Up The Planet

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Sunday’s spectacular supermoon was one of three lunar events that will occur two more times before the end of 2016.

For those who missed last night’s supermoon there will be a second “extra-supermoon” this coming November, the closest full moon of the 21st century.

RT.com reports:

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October 16 is the first night of the year when there will not only be a full moon in the night sky, but it will also be at its closest point to Earth, making it a ‘supermoon’.

A beautiful photo taken last night showing the #supermoon! …The Orbital ATK Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft onboard, sits on launch Pad-0A at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Liftoff is scheduled for today, Sunday, Oct. 16 at 8:03 p.m. EDT. This cargo resupply mission will deliver over 5,100 pounds of science, research and supplies to the orbiting laboratory and its crew. Watch live coverage starting at 7 p.m. Details: http://go.nasa.gov/2dTWpSX Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls #NASA #OrbitalATK #launch #Cygnus #ISS #spacestation #launch #adastra

A photo posted by NASA Exploration Systems (@explorenasa) on Oct 16, 2016 at 4:25am PDT

The term, according to NASA, was originally given to a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is “within 90 percent of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit”, but it’s now used more broadly to cover any full moon that is closer to Earth than normal.

The moon’s distance from Earth varies depending on which side of its journey the moon is on during its elliptical orbit. ‘Perigee’ is about 30,000 miles closer to Earth than the opposite side ‘Apogee’.

When the Earth, sun and moon line up during the ‘perigee’ side of the lunar orbit, we get a ‘perigee moon’ or ‘supermoon’.

Perigee full moons can appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 brighter than apogee full moons, and often create the optical illusion of a ‘low-hanging’ moon.

打ち合わせ帰りのスーパームーン🌙✨✨ #supermoon #skytree #いいことありますように

A photo posted by @erykah003 on Oct 16, 2016 at 4:06am PDT

After October, the next supermoons to round off the lunar hat-trick will appear on November 14 and December 14.

October’s Hunter Moon sets behind Enger Tower on Duluth’s hillside. This full moon was also a “supermoon” – a full moon which coincides with the moon’s perigee. . #engertower #capturemn #minnesota #minnstagramers #igersminnesota #minnesotaphotographers #midwestmoment #duluthmn #duluth #destinationduluth #discoverduluth #authenticduluth #perfectduluthday #mprphotos #wdiowirt1013 #photopills #photoarena_nature #awesome_earthpix #fullmoon #supermoon #huntermoon

A photo posted by Grant Johnson (@grantjohnsonphotography) on Oct 16, 2016 at 7:32am PDT

November’s date is expected to reach “extra-supermoon” status as it becomes a full moon within about two hours of perigee, making it the closest full moon of the 21st century.

The extra-supermoon phenomenon won’t be witnessed again until November 25, 2034.

2016 ends with a trio of supermoons! Watch to find out when to see them and why there will be three in a row. pic.twitter.com/XbYN9FhmWs

— NASA ScienceCasts (@NASAScienceCast) 14 October 2016