Look up tomorrow to see this year’s full Moon, which will be a little bit brighter.
The final supermoon of 2022 will be visible in the night sky tomorrow. A supermoon is a full moon that occasionally occurs when our natural satellite is close to its perigee, or closest point to Earth. According to NASA, the Moon enlarges by about 14% and brightens by 30% when this occurs, making it noticeably brighter than when it is at the apogee (its farthest point).
The Moon’s orbit is close to a circle, but not quite, which causes the phenomena. Because it is elliptical, it will either get closer to us or become further away as it revolves around the Earth. The notion of a supermoon is frequently rather arbitrary and lacks a rigorous astronomical meaning. It is a full Moon that happens when the Moon is within 10% of its perigee, according to astronomer Fred Espenak.
This definition results in three or four consecutive supermoons each year. The final one will take place tomorrow night, making four in total. A “micromoon” is the reverse, but the difference is so negligible that you wouldn’t see it if you weren’t aware of it.
The Moon illusion is an optical ruse that is much more noticeable. This occurs when the Moon is low on the horizon and appears to be enormous and much closer than usual.
The Moon will rise tomorrow in the early evening, and it will be visible all night. You’ll have to wait until December 6, 2052, to witness the most spectacular of all moons at its closest approach to perigee. The following one will occur on November 25, 2034.
Unfortunately, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower will coincide with this Supermoon. The moon’s brightness will make it much more difficult to occasionally see a streak cross the sky, while it will still be possible.
