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NEW YORK — On Wednesday night, sky gazers are in for a treat as the largest and brightest supermoon of the year graces the night sky.
The moon’s orbit around Earth is not a perfect circle, causing it to move closer and farther away at different times. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth, making it appear up to 14% larger and 30% more luminous than the dimmest full moon of the year, according to NASA.
This November’s supermoon marks the second of three supermoons this year and is set to be the closest, with the moon coming within just under 222,000 miles (357,000 kilometers) from our planet.
Astronomer Lawrence Wasserman from the Lowell Observatory notes that the moon’s proximity during a supermoon might lead to slightly higher tides. However, the change is generally subtle and not easily noticeable.
If the skies are clear, no special equipment is necessary to enjoy the supermoon. Although the moon will appear larger, the difference in size can be challenging to perceive without the aid of telescopes.
“The difference is most obvious as a comparison between other images or observations,” said Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, in an email.
Supermoons happen a few times a year. One in October made the moon look somewhat larger, and another in December will be the last of the year.
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