A "supermoon" is set to debut this weekend, which is when the biggest and brightest full moon of the year debuts in the sky early Sunday morning, making it appear closer to the Earth than we usually get to see it.
The moon will be in its full phase, which means it will appear 8 percent larger and 17 percent brighter than usual-an event widely known as a "supermoon," according to astronomy website EarthSky. The term supermoon was coined by the astrologer Richard Nolle over 30 years ago. He used the term to illustrate a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is at or near its closest approach to Earth.
The moon will come within 222,000 miles (357,000 kilometres) of Earth and turn full around 7:30 a.m. EDT (1130 GMT), making it the best time to view. The full moon is called a super perigee moon since it is at its closest to Earth in 2011. The last full moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March 1993.
There is good news for potential spectators. "It doesn't matter where you are, the full moon you're seeing will be the biggest for 2013," Michelle Thaller, the assistant director of science at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said. "... That 12 percent size different can mean as much as a 30 percent change in the brightness, so this will be a particularly bright supermoon."
If you prefer to stay indoors, you can also watch a live webcast of the supermoon on SPACE.com beginning on Sunday beginning at 9 p.m. EDT, 6 p.m. PDT (0100 June 24 GMT), courtesy of the online Slooh Space Camera, an online skywatchingwebsite. Click here for a full list of international times, courtesy of SLOOH.
