{"id":63828,"date":"2024-09-16T07:52:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T07:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e88381cc-76d2-4e88-85b4-c5c237cc9a71"},"modified":"2024-09-16T08:40:06","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T08:40:06","slug":"four-supermoons-are-visible-in-2024-the-next-is-this-weeks-harvest-moon-and-a-partial-lunar-eclipse","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/four-supermoons-are-visible-in-2024-the-next-is-this-weeks-harvest-moon-and-a-partial-lunar-eclipse\/","title":{"rendered":"Four supermoons are visible in 2024. The next is this week’s Harvest Moon and a partial lunar eclipse"},"content":{"rendered":"

What does the term ‘supermoon’ mean, when is the next one and are they really bigger than a regular full Moon? <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Monday, 16 September 2024 at 07:52 AM<\/p>

\n\n

There are four supermoons in 2024, the next occurring this week on 18 September.<\/p>

2024’s first supermoon was the 19 August Super Blue Moon<\/a> and the rest are on 18 September, 17 October and 15 November.<\/p>

The 18 September supermoon will be the Harvest Moon<\/a> for 2024, as well as undergoing a partial lunar eclipse<\/a>.<\/p>

In this guide we’ll look at the ‘supermoon’ definition, what it means and whether they live up to the hype.<\/p>

Read our guides on how to observe the Moon<\/a> and how to photograph the Moon<\/a>, or get observing upclose with our guide to the best telescopes for beginners<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>

And find out when the next full Moon<\/a> is visible.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Four Supermoons of 2023 captured by Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kolkata, India, July-September 2023. Equipment: Nikon D5600, Sigma 150-600c, Benro Tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Defining a supermoon<\/strong><\/h2>
You’ll likely find some difference in references online stating to how many supermoons are occurring in 2024.<\/p>
Our guide is taken from the definition of a supermoon being a full Moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth in its orbit.<\/p>
The last supermoon visible in 2023 was the 29 September Harvest Moon<\/a>.<\/p>
According to Feed Espenak’s online resource Astropixels<\/a>, there will be 5 supermoons occurring in 2029, and again 5 supermoons per year over the next 4 years until the end of 2033.<\/p>
On supermoon dates, the Moon will appear beautifully bright in the night sky, making for a great naked-eye spectacle perfect for inspiring young astronomers and newcomers.<\/p>
But what is a supermoon, when do they occur, and are they really something to get excited about?<\/p>
$\"A$
A view of the Super Blue Moon captured in the morning of 31 August 2023 by Taranjot Singh, Sydney, Australia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Supermoon: an astronomical term?<\/strong><\/h2>
Supermoons occur at perigee: the point in the Moon\u2019s orbit where it\u2019s closest to Earth.<\/p>
A perigee full Moon appears a little brighter and larger than an average full Moon, and is known by some as a \u2018supermoon\u2019.<\/p>
Generally speaking, however, astronomers don’t tend to use these terms, likely due to the term supermoon’s astrological origins.<\/p>
And the technical name for a ‘supermoon’ is a perigee syzygy Moon.<\/p>
**For more stargazing advice and Moon dates and phases delivered to your email inbox every week, sign up to receive the** **BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>**
$\"The$
1 August 2023 supermoon captured by S\u00e9rgio Concei\u00e7\u00e3o from the medieval village of Monsaraz, Alentejo, Portugal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
What is a supermoon and when do they occur?<\/strong><\/h2>
A supermoon happens when a full Moon coincides with the Moon\u2019s closest approach to Earth along its orbit.<\/p>
We get 12 or 13 full Moons each year but, due to the orientation of the Moon\u2019s orbit, not every full Moon is a supermoon, in the same way that not every full Moon is a lunar eclipse<\/a>.<\/p>
There are also some supermoons that we can’t see because they occur at new Moon, and these are known as a new supermoon<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Supermoon$
Supermoon captured by Rajneesh Prashar, Delhi, India. Equipment: Canon 700D, 18MM & 250MM<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Moon’s orbit around Earth<\/strong><\/h2>
The Moon takes just over 27 days to orbit Earth on an elliptical path that takes it from its most distant point from Earth at apogee, to its closest approach at perigee.<\/p>
These distances can vary between 406,712km (apogee) and 356,445km (perigee).<\/p>
It also takes just over 29 days to cycle from one full Moon to the next, which you can see for yourself if you note the phases of the Moon<\/a> night after night.<\/p>
Meanwhile, Earth’s orbit around the Sun<\/a> takes 365 days and this means it takes 14 lunar cycles (411 days) to go from one full perigee Moon to the next one.<\/p>
$\"Comparison$
Comparison between the perigee (closest) and apogee (farthest) Moons. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Apogee and perigee<\/strong><\/h2>
The lunar orbit is elliptical and over time this means the distance between Earth and the Moon varies.<\/p>
As you would expect, the apparent diameter of the Moon varies over its orbit because of this distance change.<\/p>
Apogee describes when the Moon is furthest from Earth, perigee when nearest. When it\u2019s closest, the Moon\u2019s apparent size is around 34 arcminutes, while at apogee the Moon\u2019s apparent size is around 30 arcminutes.<\/p>
Apogee and perigee have no connection with lunar phase, the orbit cycle being out of sync with the phase cycle.<\/p>
A full Moon near perigee gains more attention than a regular full Moon because it appears larger and brighter than average, and has also become known by the popular term \u2018supermoon\u2019.<\/p>
However, if you compare a perigee full Moon to the ones in previous and following months you probably wouldn\u2019t notice any difference.<\/p>
$\"Supermoon,$
Supermoon engulfed by clouds in Clacton-On-Sea, Essex, UK, captured by Shantelle Robinson with an Olympus E-420. Credit: Shantelle Robinson<\/figcaption><\/figure>
When a supermoon happens<\/strong><\/h2>
The term supermoon refers to both perigee full and new Moons but, as the new Moon is not visible we will concentrate on the full supermoon.<\/p>
The name \u2018supermoon\u2019 was first coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. He defined it as \u201ca new or full Moon that occurs when the Moon is at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in its orbit\u201d.<\/p>
Astronomers prefer the more precise, though perhaps less catchy, term of a perigee full Moon to describe a full Moon that occurs when the Moon\u2019s centre is less than 360,000km from the centre of Earth.<\/p>
Or a perigee syzygy full Moon, where syzygy refers to a straight-line configuration of three or more celestial bodies in a gravitational system (in this case Earth, the Moon and the Sun).<\/p>
The opposite phenomenon, an apogee syzygy full Moon, is similarly dubbed a \u2018micromoon\u2019.<\/p>
$\"The$
The difference in apparent size between apogee and perigee full Moons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Is a supermoon really bigger?<\/strong><\/h2>
Much has been written about supermoons \u2018stunning\u2019 and \u2018dazzling\u2019 observers, and this is another reason some astronomers balk at the term.<\/p>
In reality, a full Moon at perigee appears only 14% larger due to being closer to us, and only 30% brighter than an apogee full Moon.<\/p>
A supermoon is also only about 7% larger and 15% brighter than an average full Moon.<\/p>
$\"A$
A perigee full Moon (left) appears 30 larger than an apogee full Moon (right). Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Without a side-by- side comparison, it is difficult to spot the difference from one month to the next, but it is possible to record changes in the Moon’s size<\/a> through photography.<\/p>
The difference in brightness is due to the reflected light from the lunar surface that reaches Earth being inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.<\/p>
**Supermoon and the Moon illusion<\/strong><\/h2>** $\"A$ <\/figure>
A full Moon often offers the chance to see the \u2018 Moon illusion<\/a>\u2019. This optical effect occurs when fuller phases of the Moon appear close to the horizon, after moonrise or before moonset.<\/p>
Catch it right and the illusion is powerful: it\u2019s hard to believe that the Moon you\u2019re looking at isn\u2019t larger than normal. <\/p>
In reality, the low Moon is a bit smaller than it appears when high up due to increased distance and atmospheric refraction.<\/p>
If you see the full Moon illusion, take a photo using a 200mm or longer lens. When it has climbed higher, do the same thing.<\/p>
Using a layer-based editor, put both Moons side by side. This proves the \u2018giant\u2019 Moon is no larger than a regular one.<\/p>
$\"The$
The Moon appears bigger to the naked eye when it’s closer to the horizon. This is known as the Moon illusion. Credit: Manuel Breva Colmeiro \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Testing the Moon illusion<\/strong><\/h2>
The reason for this optical illusion that causes the Moon illusion is still under debate.<\/p>
But it could be to do with the way our brains process objects close to the horizon as being larger when in proximity to buildings and trees, than when they are high in the sky with nothing to compare sizes against.<\/p>
Nevertheless, around the time of a supermoon, a good observing project is to see whether you can spot the Moon illusion in action.<\/p>
If clear, ask young observers to view the Moon and then turn their back on it.<\/p>
Ask them to estimate how large it was using their thumb and forefinger at arm\u2019s length.<\/p>
Then turn them around to look at the Moon and get them to measure its real apparent diameter using a thumb and forefinger at arm\u2019s length.<\/p>
Chances are the first estimate is too big!<\/p>
$\"Fly$
A Boeing 737 silhouetted against the Supermoon of 14 November 2016, captured by Richard Matthews from Staffordshire, UK. Credit: Richard Matthews.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Do supermoons always come in threes?<\/strong><\/h2>
Every 14 lunar months the series of full Moons cycles from largest to smallest and back again as the Moon orbits Earth. Perigee can last between two and five full Moons.<\/p>
For a full Moon to be classed as \u2018super\u2019 it must occur when it is around 360,000km away from Earth or less, so the full Moons occurring either side commonly also fall within the supermoon category.<\/p>
On rare occasions we get two or four supermoons in a row, but three is the most common.<\/p>
Effects of a supermoon<\/strong><\/h2>
Many people talk about the effects of a supermoon on us and our planet.<\/p>
There is scant scientific evidence to support claims that supermoons cause earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, extreme weather and tsunamis, floods and pestilence!<\/p>
The Moon is, of course, the driving force for Earth\u2019s tides.<\/p>
Full and new Moons are when the Earth, Sun and Moon line up to produce extreme spring tides.<\/p>
But the effect of perigean spring tides only increases the tidal variations by about 5cm on average.<\/p>
$\"Supermoons$
Supermoons have little added influence on Earth’s tides. Credit: Jeff Morgan \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
In recent years there have indeed been a handful of tsunamis and earthquakes that coincided with a supermoon.<\/p>
But with around three supermoons every 14 months, it would be unusual if such a disaster did not coincide with a supermoon now and then.<\/p>
A supermoon may not be so \u2018super\u2019, or even rare, but once you cut through the hype, it is still a great way to engage with our nearest celestial neighbour.<\/p>
For more on lunar-gazing, read our guide on how to observe the Moon<\/a>.<\/p>
Pictures of supermoons<\/strong><\/h2>
Below is a selection of images of supermoons captured by astrophotographers and *BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/em> readers. If you managed to capture one, we’d love to see it.<\/p>*
*Don’t forget to* *send us your images<\/a> or share them with us via Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>*
$\"The$
Supermoon next to Big Ben. Credit: Jeremy Selwyn\/Evening Standard\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Blue$
Blue SupermoonJefferson Mazzoni, S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9 do Rio Preto, Brazil, 30 August 2023Equipment: Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR camera, Sky-Watcher Explorer 150P reflector, iOptron CEM25P mount<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Blue$
Blue Supermoon by Shreya Roy, Kolkata, India, 30 August 2023Equipment: Nikon D5600 DSLR camera, Nikon 70-300mm lens, Digitek tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Four$
Four Supermoons of 2023 captured by Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kolkata, India, July-September 2023. Equipment: Nikon D5600, Sigma 150-600c, Benro Tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"\u2069Supermoon$
\u2069Supermoon over western Finland, 2022. Credit: Milamai \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"A$
A view of the Super Blue Moon captured in the morning of 31 August 2023 by Taranjot Singh, Sydney, Australia. Equipment: Nikon D850 camera, Nikkor 200-500mm lens, tripod.Exposure: f\/5.6, ISO 200, shutter 1\/5<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Soumyadeep$
Soumyadeep Mukherjee captured this image of the Blue Supermoon from Kolkata, India, 30 August 2023. Equipment: Nikon D5600, Sigma 150-600mm, Leofoto tripod. Exposure: f\/6.3, 1 second, ISO 800, 600mm<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Xue Bing in Korla, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Credit: Xue Bing\/VCG via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon rising over Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey. Credit: Cem Tekkesinoglu\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Stan Grossfeld, Boston, MA, USA. The image shows the supermoon next to Boston University’s Center for Computing and Data Sciences (known as the Jenga Building). Credit: Stan Grossfeld\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Fatih Aktas, New York City, USA. The image shows the Moon shining bright orange above the Empire State Building. Credit: Fatih Aktas\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Osama Fathi at the Nile River, Cairo, Egypt. The image shows the Moon’s brightness reflected in the water. Equipment: Nikon Z6 mod. Camera, RedCat51 250mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by S\u00e9rgio Concei\u00e7\u00e3o from the medieval village of Monsaraz, Alentejo, Portugal.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by S\u00e9rgio Concei\u00e7\u00e3o from the medieval village of Monsaraz, Alentejo, Portugal.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kolkata India. Passing clouds create a vivid iridescence from the moonlight. The final image is a result of a blend of 2 images (focus stacked), one for the foreground and one for the sky, taken from the same position. Equipment: Nikon Z6ii camera, Samyang 135mm lens, Leofoto tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The Sturgeon Super Moon Above The Walls of Cefal\u00e0 Diana Castle, Sicily, captured by Dario Giannobile, 1 August 2023. Equipment: Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera, Sigma 150-600mm lens @ 900mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The Sturgeon Super Moon Above The Walls of Cefal\u00e0 Diana Castle, Sicily, captured by Dario Giannobile, 1 August 2023. Equipment: Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera, Sigma 150-600mm lens @ 900mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"August$
August supermoonVicki Pink, Southampton, UK, August 12 2022.Equipment: Altair Hypercam 269C Pro TEC camera, Skywatcher Evostar 72ED DS Pro refractor, Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro mount<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Supermoon$
Supermoon over The NeedlesCenk Albayrak-Touy\u00e9, Highcliffe Beach, Dorset, 13th July 2022Equipment: Canon EOS RP, Sigma 150-600mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"A$
Credit: Mimi Ditchie Photography \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Supermoon$
Supermoon Luis Rojas, Santiago de Chile, 7 April 2020. Equipment: Canon T6i DSLR, Explore Scientific ED102 triplet apo refactor, iOptron iEQ30 Pro mount<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"\"$
Luigi Fiorentino, Bari, Italy. Luigi says: \u201cI managed to capture a shot of the supermoon with a transit of the International Space Station!\u201d Equipment: Canon EOS 650D DSLR camera, Celestron C9.25 XLT<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Justin$
Justin Miller, Hayling Island, Hampshire. Justin says: \u201cOver the few days before the supermoon peak I spent some time on the beach finding a location from which to capture it. I\u2019d say the Moon did look slightly bigger than normal but when looking through the camera it was hard to tell the difference, so I needed some foreground to give it some scale.\u201d Equipment: Canon EOS 70D DSLR camera, Canon 28-300mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Justin$
Justin Miller, Hayling Island, Hampshire. Justin says: \u201cOver the few days before the supermoon peak I spent some time on the beach finding a location from which to capture it. I\u2019d say the Moon did look slightly bigger than normal but when looking through the camera it was hard to tell the difference, so I needed some foreground to give it some scale.\u201d Equipment: Canon EOS 70D DSLR camera, Canon 28-300mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Richard$
Richard Matthews, Staffordshire. Richard says: “A lucky shot with a Boeging 737 getting in the way!” Equipment: Samsung Galaxy J5 smartphone, Celestron Travel Scope 70.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Matthew$
Matthew Mallett, East Terrace Beach, Walton On Naze, Essex. Matthew says: “A view of the supermoon on the eve of its largest diameter on 13 November 2016. Note the breakwater arrow pointing in the direction of the Moon and the bird taking off from the top of the breakwater.” Equipment: Nikon D800 DSLR camera, Nikon 70-200mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Four Supermoons of 2023 captured by Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kolkata, India, July-September 2023. Equipment: Nikon D5600, Sigma 150-600c, Benro Tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Defining a supermoon<\/strong><\/h2>
You’ll likely find some difference in references online stating to how many supermoons are occurring in 2024.<\/p>
Our guide is taken from the definition of a supermoon being a full Moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth in its orbit.<\/p>
The last supermoon visible in 2023 was the 29 September Harvest Moon<\/a>.<\/p>
According to Feed Espenak’s online resource Astropixels<\/a>, there will be 5 supermoons occurring in 2029, and again 5 supermoons per year over the next 4 years until the end of 2033.<\/p>
On supermoon dates, the Moon will appear beautifully bright in the night sky, making for a great naked-eye spectacle perfect for inspiring young astronomers and newcomers.<\/p>
But what is a supermoon, when do they occur, and are they really something to get excited about?<\/p>
$\"A$
A view of the Super Blue Moon captured in the morning of 31 August 2023 by Taranjot Singh, Sydney, Australia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Supermoon: an astronomical term?<\/strong><\/h2>
Supermoons occur at perigee: the point in the Moon\u2019s orbit where it\u2019s closest to Earth.<\/p>
A perigee full Moon appears a little brighter and larger than an average full Moon, and is known by some as a \u2018supermoon\u2019.<\/p>
Generally speaking, however, astronomers don’t tend to use these terms, likely due to the term supermoon’s astrological origins.<\/p>
And the technical name for a ‘supermoon’ is a perigee syzygy Moon.<\/p>
**For more stargazing advice and Moon dates and phases delivered to your email inbox every week, sign up to receive the** **BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>**
$\"The$
1 August 2023 supermoon captured by S\u00e9rgio Concei\u00e7\u00e3o from the medieval village of Monsaraz, Alentejo, Portugal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
What is a supermoon and when do they occur?<\/strong><\/h2>
A supermoon happens when a full Moon coincides with the Moon\u2019s closest approach to Earth along its orbit.<\/p>
We get 12 or 13 full Moons each year but, due to the orientation of the Moon\u2019s orbit, not every full Moon is a supermoon, in the same way that not every full Moon is a lunar eclipse<\/a>.<\/p>
There are also some supermoons that we can’t see because they occur at new Moon, and these are known as a new supermoon<\/a>.<\/p>
$\"Supermoon$
Supermoon captured by Rajneesh Prashar, Delhi, India. Equipment: Canon 700D, 18MM & 250MM<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Moon’s orbit around Earth<\/strong><\/h2>
The Moon takes just over 27 days to orbit Earth on an elliptical path that takes it from its most distant point from Earth at apogee, to its closest approach at perigee.<\/p>
These distances can vary between 406,712km (apogee) and 356,445km (perigee).<\/p>
It also takes just over 29 days to cycle from one full Moon to the next, which you can see for yourself if you note the phases of the Moon<\/a> night after night.<\/p>
Meanwhile, Earth’s orbit around the Sun<\/a> takes 365 days and this means it takes 14 lunar cycles (411 days) to go from one full perigee Moon to the next one.<\/p>
$\"Comparison$
Comparison between the perigee (closest) and apogee (farthest) Moons. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Apogee and perigee<\/strong><\/h2>
The lunar orbit is elliptical and over time this means the distance between Earth and the Moon varies.<\/p>
As you would expect, the apparent diameter of the Moon varies over its orbit because of this distance change.<\/p>
Apogee describes when the Moon is furthest from Earth, perigee when nearest. When it\u2019s closest, the Moon\u2019s apparent size is around 34 arcminutes, while at apogee the Moon\u2019s apparent size is around 30 arcminutes.<\/p>
Apogee and perigee have no connection with lunar phase, the orbit cycle being out of sync with the phase cycle.<\/p>
A full Moon near perigee gains more attention than a regular full Moon because it appears larger and brighter than average, and has also become known by the popular term \u2018supermoon\u2019.<\/p>
However, if you compare a perigee full Moon to the ones in previous and following months you probably wouldn\u2019t notice any difference.<\/p>
$\"Supermoon,$
Supermoon engulfed by clouds in Clacton-On-Sea, Essex, UK, captured by Shantelle Robinson with an Olympus E-420. Credit: Shantelle Robinson<\/figcaption><\/figure>
When a supermoon happens<\/strong><\/h2>
The term supermoon refers to both perigee full and new Moons but, as the new Moon is not visible we will concentrate on the full supermoon.<\/p>
The name \u2018supermoon\u2019 was first coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. He defined it as \u201ca new or full Moon that occurs when the Moon is at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in its orbit\u201d.<\/p>
Astronomers prefer the more precise, though perhaps less catchy, term of a perigee full Moon to describe a full Moon that occurs when the Moon\u2019s centre is less than 360,000km from the centre of Earth.<\/p>
Or a perigee syzygy full Moon, where syzygy refers to a straight-line configuration of three or more celestial bodies in a gravitational system (in this case Earth, the Moon and the Sun).<\/p>
The opposite phenomenon, an apogee syzygy full Moon, is similarly dubbed a \u2018micromoon\u2019.<\/p>
$\"The$
The difference in apparent size between apogee and perigee full Moons.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Is a supermoon really bigger?<\/strong><\/h2>
Much has been written about supermoons \u2018stunning\u2019 and \u2018dazzling\u2019 observers, and this is another reason some astronomers balk at the term.<\/p>
In reality, a full Moon at perigee appears only 14% larger due to being closer to us, and only 30% brighter than an apogee full Moon.<\/p>
A supermoon is also only about 7% larger and 15% brighter than an average full Moon.<\/p>
$\"A$
A perigee full Moon (left) appears 30 larger than an apogee full Moon (right). Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Without a side-by- side comparison, it is difficult to spot the difference from one month to the next, but it is possible to record changes in the Moon’s size<\/a> through photography.<\/p>
The difference in brightness is due to the reflected light from the lunar surface that reaches Earth being inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.<\/p>
**Supermoon and the Moon illusion<\/strong><\/h2>** $\"A$ <\/figure>
A full Moon often offers the chance to see the \u2018 Moon illusion<\/a>\u2019. This optical effect occurs when fuller phases of the Moon appear close to the horizon, after moonrise or before moonset.<\/p>
Catch it right and the illusion is powerful: it\u2019s hard to believe that the Moon you\u2019re looking at isn\u2019t larger than normal. <\/p>
In reality, the low Moon is a bit smaller than it appears when high up due to increased distance and atmospheric refraction.<\/p>
If you see the full Moon illusion, take a photo using a 200mm or longer lens. When it has climbed higher, do the same thing.<\/p>
Using a layer-based editor, put both Moons side by side. This proves the \u2018giant\u2019 Moon is no larger than a regular one.<\/p>
$\"The$
The Moon appears bigger to the naked eye when it’s closer to the horizon. This is known as the Moon illusion. Credit: Manuel Breva Colmeiro \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Testing the Moon illusion<\/strong><\/h2>
The reason for this optical illusion that causes the Moon illusion is still under debate.<\/p>
But it could be to do with the way our brains process objects close to the horizon as being larger when in proximity to buildings and trees, than when they are high in the sky with nothing to compare sizes against.<\/p>
Nevertheless, around the time of a supermoon, a good observing project is to see whether you can spot the Moon illusion in action.<\/p>
If clear, ask young observers to view the Moon and then turn their back on it.<\/p>
Ask them to estimate how large it was using their thumb and forefinger at arm\u2019s length.<\/p>
Then turn them around to look at the Moon and get them to measure its real apparent diameter using a thumb and forefinger at arm\u2019s length.<\/p>
Chances are the first estimate is too big!<\/p>
$\"Fly$
A Boeing 737 silhouetted against the Supermoon of 14 November 2016, captured by Richard Matthews from Staffordshire, UK. Credit: Richard Matthews.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Do supermoons always come in threes?<\/strong><\/h2>
Every 14 lunar months the series of full Moons cycles from largest to smallest and back again as the Moon orbits Earth. Perigee can last between two and five full Moons.<\/p>
For a full Moon to be classed as \u2018super\u2019 it must occur when it is around 360,000km away from Earth or less, so the full Moons occurring either side commonly also fall within the supermoon category.<\/p>
On rare occasions we get two or four supermoons in a row, but three is the most common.<\/p>
Effects of a supermoon<\/strong><\/h2>
Many people talk about the effects of a supermoon on us and our planet.<\/p>
There is scant scientific evidence to support claims that supermoons cause earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, extreme weather and tsunamis, floods and pestilence!<\/p>
The Moon is, of course, the driving force for Earth\u2019s tides.<\/p>
Full and new Moons are when the Earth, Sun and Moon line up to produce extreme spring tides.<\/p>
But the effect of perigean spring tides only increases the tidal variations by about 5cm on average.<\/p>
$\"Supermoons$
Supermoons have little added influence on Earth’s tides. Credit: Jeff Morgan \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
In recent years there have indeed been a handful of tsunamis and earthquakes that coincided with a supermoon.<\/p>
But with around three supermoons every 14 months, it would be unusual if such a disaster did not coincide with a supermoon now and then.<\/p>
A supermoon may not be so \u2018super\u2019, or even rare, but once you cut through the hype, it is still a great way to engage with our nearest celestial neighbour.<\/p>
For more on lunar-gazing, read our guide on how to observe the Moon<\/a>.<\/p>
Pictures of supermoons<\/strong><\/h2>
Below is a selection of images of supermoons captured by astrophotographers and *BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/em> readers. If you managed to capture one, we’d love to see it.<\/p>*
*Don’t forget to* *send us your images<\/a> or share them with us via Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>*
$\"The$
Supermoon next to Big Ben. Credit: Jeremy Selwyn\/Evening Standard\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Blue$
Blue SupermoonJefferson Mazzoni, S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9 do Rio Preto, Brazil, 30 August 2023Equipment: Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR camera, Sky-Watcher Explorer 150P reflector, iOptron CEM25P mount<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Blue$
Blue Supermoon by Shreya Roy, Kolkata, India, 30 August 2023Equipment: Nikon D5600 DSLR camera, Nikon 70-300mm lens, Digitek tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Four$
Four Supermoons of 2023 captured by Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kolkata, India, July-September 2023. Equipment: Nikon D5600, Sigma 150-600c, Benro Tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"\u2069Supermoon$
\u2069Supermoon over western Finland, 2022. Credit: Milamai \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"A$
A view of the Super Blue Moon captured in the morning of 31 August 2023 by Taranjot Singh, Sydney, Australia. Equipment: Nikon D850 camera, Nikkor 200-500mm lens, tripod.Exposure: f\/5.6, ISO 200, shutter 1\/5<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Soumyadeep$
Soumyadeep Mukherjee captured this image of the Blue Supermoon from Kolkata, India, 30 August 2023. Equipment: Nikon D5600, Sigma 150-600mm, Leofoto tripod. Exposure: f\/6.3, 1 second, ISO 800, 600mm<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Xue Bing in Korla, Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. Credit: Xue Bing\/VCG via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon rising over Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey. Credit: Cem Tekkesinoglu\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Stan Grossfeld, Boston, MA, USA. The image shows the supermoon next to Boston University’s Center for Computing and Data Sciences (known as the Jenga Building). Credit: Stan Grossfeld\/The Boston Globe via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Fatih Aktas, New York City, USA. The image shows the Moon shining bright orange above the Empire State Building. Credit: Fatih Aktas\/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Osama Fathi at the Nile River, Cairo, Egypt. The image shows the Moon’s brightness reflected in the water. Equipment: Nikon Z6 mod. Camera, RedCat51 250mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by S\u00e9rgio Concei\u00e7\u00e3o from the medieval village of Monsaraz, Alentejo, Portugal.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by S\u00e9rgio Concei\u00e7\u00e3o from the medieval village of Monsaraz, Alentejo, Portugal.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The 1 August 2023 supermoon captured by Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kolkata India. Passing clouds create a vivid iridescence from the moonlight. The final image is a result of a blend of 2 images (focus stacked), one for the foreground and one for the sky, taken from the same position. Equipment: Nikon Z6ii camera, Samyang 135mm lens, Leofoto tripod<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The Sturgeon Super Moon Above The Walls of Cefal\u00e0 Diana Castle, Sicily, captured by Dario Giannobile, 1 August 2023. Equipment: Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera, Sigma 150-600mm lens @ 900mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"The$
The Sturgeon Super Moon Above The Walls of Cefal\u00e0 Diana Castle, Sicily, captured by Dario Giannobile, 1 August 2023. Equipment: Canon EOS 7D DSLR camera, Sigma 150-600mm lens @ 900mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"August$
August supermoonVicki Pink, Southampton, UK, August 12 2022.Equipment: Altair Hypercam 269C Pro TEC camera, Skywatcher Evostar 72ED DS Pro refractor, Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro mount<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Supermoon$
Supermoon over The NeedlesCenk Albayrak-Touy\u00e9, Highcliffe Beach, Dorset, 13th July 2022Equipment: Canon EOS RP, Sigma 150-600mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"A$
Credit: Mimi Ditchie Photography \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Supermoon$
Supermoon Luis Rojas, Santiago de Chile, 7 April 2020. Equipment: Canon T6i DSLR, Explore Scientific ED102 triplet apo refactor, iOptron iEQ30 Pro mount<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"\"$
Luigi Fiorentino, Bari, Italy. Luigi says: \u201cI managed to capture a shot of the supermoon with a transit of the International Space Station!\u201d Equipment: Canon EOS 650D DSLR camera, Celestron C9.25 XLT<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Justin$
Justin Miller, Hayling Island, Hampshire. Justin says: \u201cOver the few days before the supermoon peak I spent some time on the beach finding a location from which to capture it. I\u2019d say the Moon did look slightly bigger than normal but when looking through the camera it was hard to tell the difference, so I needed some foreground to give it some scale.\u201d Equipment: Canon EOS 70D DSLR camera, Canon 28-300mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Justin$
Justin Miller, Hayling Island, Hampshire. Justin says: \u201cOver the few days before the supermoon peak I spent some time on the beach finding a location from which to capture it. I\u2019d say the Moon did look slightly bigger than normal but when looking through the camera it was hard to tell the difference, so I needed some foreground to give it some scale.\u201d Equipment: Canon EOS 70D DSLR camera, Canon 28-300mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Richard$
Richard Matthews, Staffordshire. Richard says: “A lucky shot with a Boeging 737 getting in the way!” Equipment: Samsung Galaxy J5 smartphone, Celestron Travel Scope 70.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>
$\"Matthew$
Matthew Mallett, East Terrace Beach, Walton On Naze, Essex. Matthew says: “A view of the supermoon on the eve of its largest diameter on 13 November 2016. Note the breakwater arrow pointing in the direction of the Moon and the bird taking off from the top of the breakwater.” Equipment: Nikon D800 DSLR camera, Nikon 70-200mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Supermoon and the Moon illusion<\/strong><\/h2><\/figure>