Last Sunday August 10, was the night of supermoon! The phenomenonwhich moon get closer to the earth than it has been in over 20 years, stargazers saw a moon 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than usual (as NASA tweeted).
According to The Independent, The famous phenomenon happens when the moon hits the point of its orbit closest to the Earth, which usually means being around 30,000 miles from the planet. This is called “perigee moon”. Sunday night’s moon was about 863 miles closer; it became full within the same hour of being at the perigee point in its orbit, making it appear bigger and brighter than usual.
The full moon occurred at 2:09 p.m. EDT, according to Space.com but is brightness may have drowned it out for most viewers.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted that the supermoon of 2014 was only slightly more superior than the last full moon on July 13.
Take a look at some of the most incredible photos of the full Moon we’ve seen yet.
A comparison the between two ‘extreme’ full Moons of 2014: the perigee Full Moon of August 10th, and the apogee full Moon of January 16. As seen from Central Italy. Credit and copyright: Giuseppe Petricca.The supermoon rises over the Mediterranean sea at Cabopino beach in southern Spain, August 10, 2014. Paul Hanna/ReutersThe August 10, 2014 ‘super’ Moon. Credit and copyright: Robbie Ambrose.People watch the nearly ‘super’ Moon rise on August 9, 2014 near a lighthouse. Credit and copyright: Will Nourse.A couple talk as they sit against the perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, in Madrid, Aug. 10, 2014. Andres Kudacki/AP PhotoThe perigee Moon from Toronto, Canada at 8:35 pm EDT. Credit and copyright: Rick Ellis.The supermoon of August 10, 2014 rising behind Mt. Rundle and Banff, Alberta, Canada as shot from the Mt. Norquay viewpoint looking south over the valley. Credit and copyright: Alan Dyer.Fireworks streak past in front of the supermoon outside the town of Mosta in central Matla as the town celebrates the feast of its patron saint on August 10, 2014. Darrin Zammit Lupi/ReutersA cloudy look at the perigee Moon of August 10, 2014 along side the Desde el Obelisco, Malecón de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Credit and copyright: Goku Abreu.A girl plays with a dog as a perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, rises in Madrid, Aug. 10, 2014. Andres Kudacki/AP Photo‘Super’ Moon, August 10, 2014, taken with Nikon D80 from Ottawa, Canada. Credit and copyright: Andrew Symes.Supermoon timelapse composite on August 10 near the ship mast at Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island, New Jersey. Credit and copyright: FrankM301 on Flickr.Perigee Full Moon mosaic from August 10, 2014 (a first attempt at a mosaic!) Credit and copyright: Mary Spicer.A full Moon flyby, as seen from Paris, France. Credit and copyright: Sebastien Lebrigand.Perigee Moon rise over London on August 10, 2014. Credit and copyright: Sculptor Lil.
If you missed this year, here are the dates for future supermoons:
