Supermoon facts for kids

The supermoon of March 19, 2011 (right), compared to a more average moon of December 20, 2010 (left), as viewed from Earth

A supermoon is a full moon or a new moon that approximately coincides with the closest distance that the Moon reaches to Earth in its orbit, resulting in a slightly larger-than-usual size of the lunar disk as seen from Earth. The term supermoon is astrological in origin.

The opposite phenomenon, is called a micromoon.

Occurrence

A supermoon rises behind the Washington Monument, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Washington. The Supermoon was up to 13.5% larger and 30% brighter than a typical Full Moon is. This is a result of the Moon reaching its perigee - the closest that it gets to the Earth during the course of its orbit. During perigee on 23 June the Moon was about 221,824 miles away, as compared to the 252,581 miles away that it is at its furthest distance from the Earth (apogee).

Supermoon lunar eclipse of January 2018

Of the possible 12-13 full moons each year, 3-4 usually are "supermoons".

The most recent full supermoon occurred on August 31, 2023, and the next one will be on September 29, 2023. The biggest supermoon of the century will occur on December 6, 2052 (when the Earth and the moon will be at the closest distance to each other).

Occasionally, a supermoon coincides with a total lunar eclipse. The most recent occurrence of this by any definition was in May 2022, and the next occurrence will be in October 2032.

Appearance

Supermoon rising above mountains

A full moon appears roughly 14% larger in diameter than at its farthest point (called apogee). Many observers insist that the moon looks bigger to them. This is likely due to observations shortly after sunset when Moon is near the horizon and the moon illusion is at its most apparent.

While the moon's surface luminance remains the same, because it is closer to the earth the illuminance is about 30% brighter than at its farthest point.

Definitions

The name supermoon was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.

The term perigee-syzygy or perigee full/new moon is preferred in the scientific community. Perigee is the point at which the Moon is closest in its orbit to the Earth, and syzygy is when the Earth, the Moon and the Sun are aligned, which happens at every full or new moon.

Effects on Earth

Scientists have confirmed that the combined effect of the Sun and Moon on the Earth's oceans, the tide, is greatest when the Moon is either new or full. However, even at its most powerful "supermoon" position, this force is still relatively weak, causing tidal differences of inches at most.

Images for kids

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  Animation of the Moon as it cycles through its phases, as seen from the southern hemisphere

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  Supermoon on August 30, 2015

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  Phases of the Moon, as seen looking southward from the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere will see each phase rotated through 180°. The upper part of the diagram is not to scale, as the Moon is much farther from the Earth than shown here.

See also

In Spanish: Superluna para niños