The moon’s orbit around the Earth isn’t a perfect circle so it gets nearer and farther as it swings around.
When a full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit, a so-called supermoon happens.
Whether a supermoon or not, the moon also appears bigger when it’s close to the horizon because of what’s called the moon illusion.
“When you have a supermoon, that effect is just slightly more striking,” said astronomer William Alston with the University of Hertfordshire.
Tides could be slightly higher during a supermoon because the moon is closer to Earth, but again, the difference isn’t very noticeable.
NEW YORK — The last supermoon of the year will shine soon in December skies.
The moon swings closer and farther from Earth because its orbit isn’t a perfect circle. When a full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit, a so-called supermoon happens. It makes the moon look up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than the faintest moon of the year, according to NASA.
Supermoons happen a few times a year in clusters, taking advantage of the sweet spot in the moon’s elliptical orbit, and Thursday night’s event is the last of three in a row in 2025.
Clear night skies allow for the viewing of the supermoon without the need for any special gear. But it can be tough to discern the subtle change with the naked eye.
The moon illusion causes the moon to appear larger when it is near the horizon, whether or not it is a supermoon. It’s a strange visual trick that experts can’t yet explain.
“When you have a supermoon, that effect is just slightly more striking,” said astronomer William Alston with the University of Hertfordshire.
Because the moon is closer to Earth during a supermoon, tides may be a little higher, but again, the difference is not very noticeable.
