Miss Monday's supermoon? When you can see it again
JERSEY CITY, NJ - AUGUST 19: The Blue Sturgeon Supermoon rises out of clouds behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City on August 19, 2024, as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)
If you miss the supermon Monday, don't worry, you'll have more chances before the year ends.
The Moon looked 14% larger during Monday's supermoon and illuminated Earth with 30% more light than the dimmest full Moon when it's farthest away in its orbit, according to NASA.
September’s supermoon will coincide with a partial lunar eclipse. October’s will be the year’s closest approach, and November’s will round out the year.
What is a supermoon?
More of a popular term than a scientific one, a supermoon occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon’s constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit.
During a supermoon, the full moon inches a little closer than usual to Earth. A supermoon isn’t bigger, but it can appear that way in the night sky, although scientists say the difference can be barely perceptible.
When is the next supermoon?
There are four supermoons to look forward to in 2024, according to EarthSky.org, and they’ll happen four months in a row:
- Aug. 19
- Sep. 17
- Oct. 17
- Nov. 15