The night sky will offer a stunning sight this Wednesday with an exceptionally large and bright Moon. This event is known as a supermoon, a celestial phenomenon that captivates astronomy enthusiasts worldwide.
The Moon orbits the Earth in an elliptical path, not a perfect circle, causing its distance from our planet to vary constantly. When the full Moon occurs at the point closest to Earth in its orbit, called the perigee, it is recognized as a supermoon.
NASA explains that during a supermoon, the Moon can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than when it is at the farthest point in its orbit, known as the apogee.
This impressive spectacle is visible to anyone interested in observing the night sky, making it an accessible and exciting event for all astronomy fans.
"This configuration can make the Moon appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than at its apogee."
Followed and reported by Adrien.
Author's summary: This Wednesday evening, the Moon will reach its closest point to Earth, creating a supermoon that appears larger and brighter, visible to all sky watchers.