The Moon's Largest Appearance of the Year: What to Expect on November 8th
A rare celestial event is set to take place on November 8th, as the full moon will appear slightly larger and brighter than usual due to its closest approach to Earth in its orbit. This phenomenon, known as a supermoon, occurs when the moon's elliptical orbit brings it closer to our planet.
According to NASA, the moon's orbit is not a perfect circle, causing it to swing closer and farther away from Earth at different times of the year. When the full moon happens to be in this closer position, it can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year.
The November supermoon will be the second closest of the year, with the moon coming within just under 222,000 miles (357,000 kilometers) of Earth. While this may cause slight variations in tides, astronomer Lawrence Wasserman notes that the difference is not noticeable.
To witness this spectacular sight without special equipment, simply look up at the sky on November 8th if clear skies permit. However, the change in size may be difficult to discern with the naked eye, as director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University Shannon Schmoll explains: "The difference is most obvious when comparing images or observations between other times."
This year's supermoon series will see three events take place, including one in October and another in December. While this November event may not be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it still promises to be an awe-inspiring sight for those who can catch it.
A rare celestial event is set to take place on November 8th, as the full moon will appear slightly larger and brighter than usual due to its closest approach to Earth in its orbit. This phenomenon, known as a supermoon, occurs when the moon's elliptical orbit brings it closer to our planet.
According to NASA, the moon's orbit is not a perfect circle, causing it to swing closer and farther away from Earth at different times of the year. When the full moon happens to be in this closer position, it can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year.
The November supermoon will be the second closest of the year, with the moon coming within just under 222,000 miles (357,000 kilometers) of Earth. While this may cause slight variations in tides, astronomer Lawrence Wasserman notes that the difference is not noticeable.
To witness this spectacular sight without special equipment, simply look up at the sky on November 8th if clear skies permit. However, the change in size may be difficult to discern with the naked eye, as director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University Shannon Schmoll explains: "The difference is most obvious when comparing images or observations between other times."
This year's supermoon series will see three events take place, including one in October and another in December. While this November event may not be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it still promises to be an awe-inspiring sight for those who can catch it.
. It's actually kinda cool that we can witness this supermoon event from our backyard. My son is already asking if we can get some moon rocks as a souvenir... 
. Seriously though, I hope the clear skies are going to be on our side so they can experience the magic of it without any disappointments. Fingers crossed! 
, did u no the moon is gonna be SUPER BIG on Nov 8th?! 
That's like, whoa! 
, which is pretty close if u ask me 
. But don't worry, it won't affect our tides that much 
.
. but honestly, the moon's orbit may not be perfect, but it's still doin its thang in space 
. and guess what? we can still appreciate its beauty from here on earth... maybe thats the lesson: we don't need some supermoon to make our lives bigger or more significnt, we just gotta pay attention to the little things & find the wonder in everyday life 
. I know some people might think it's just a big deal for astronomers or whatever, but honestly, I think it's gonna be sick to see in person 
. It's like, who cares if it's not a once-in-a-lifetime thing? It's still gonna be epic to see something so cool up close 
!
the thought of seeing a supermoon that's 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual gives me chills 
it's like the universe is putting on a show just for us, and we get to be the lucky ones who witness it 
i'm already counting down the days until november 8th 
can't wait to grab my binoculars or head out into nature to take in the view 
i mean, yeah it'll look nice and all but 14% larger isn't that much of a difference tbh & plus the brighter part is only like 30% which ain't exactly earth shattering. ppl are overreacting imo
still, i guess it's nice that people get excited about these kinds of things... might as well grab a snack and go outside for a sec if you're gonna do it!
. Still, it's cool that it's gonna be visible to the naked eye, no need for fancy equipment. Just gotta remember it's just the moon, it's not like we're getting a free upgrade to a lunar vacation or something 
.
its literally gonna be super easy 2 spot this nov 8th event in the sky!! 
but astronomer dude says its still pretty cool 
But for real tho, can't wait to gaze up at the sky and take some sick pics with my fam 
. The fact that it's only 14% bigger than usual is still pretty impressive, if you ask me 
That's like, whoa! 
️. But even if we can't see the difference with our eyes, there'll be some sick pics on Instagram and YouTube 
.
. who knows, maybe we'll get some awesome pics and videos to share afterwards 
.