Watch the Record-Breaking Supermoon

A rare supermoon has lit up the skies yesterday night and is it set to light up the skies today as well, 14 November as the satellite orbits closer to earth than it has done for 70 years. The full moon is anticipated to appear as its biggest and brightest since January 1948. Because the moon orbits the Earth in an oval shape, sometimes it is closer to our planet than at other times. It was an astonishing spectacle tonight as the first supermoon in almost 70 years appeared in the night sky. It’s quite extraordinary that if you’re younger than 68 you have never witnessed this record-breaking supermoon in your lifespan. How does the supermoon come to be? A supermoon normally refers to the concurrence of two phenomena. One is when the moon is within 90% of its closest position to earth in its orbit. Since the moon’s orbit is elliptical the moon during perigee is about 30,000 miles closer to the Earth than the apogee. Today, the moon will be the closest it has been to earth since the 40s, it will appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the average monthly full moon. If you miss the moon tonight, you will have to wait until November 25, 2034. So take some time to go outside tonight and witness the remarkable moon.

What is the best way to view it?

Try to go somewhere really dark, as other lights can diminish the bright appearance of the moon and make it more challenging to see. If you can, leave the city and view the rare celestial event from the countryside. Try to watch the moon as it approaches the horizon, this will create an optical illusion which will make the moon appear larger and more outstanding.