August's Supermoon Initiates a Series of Lunar Spectacles

On Monday, stargazers had the opportunity to witness the first of four supermoons expected this year, promising captivating views of the moon, Earth's dependable nighttime companion.

During this astronomical event known as a supermoon, the full moon appears slightly closer to our planet than usual. While scientifically the moon remains the same size, in the night sky it can seem larger and brighter, even though this difference is often minimal and hard to spot without specific comparisons. "I like to think of the supermoon as a good excuse to start looking at the moon more regularly," remarked Noah Petro, the NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter project scientist.

This sequence of supermoons starts in August, bringing with it four months of lunar allure. September's event, for instance, will align with a partial lunar eclipse, visible to inhabitants of the Americas, Africa, and Europe. October's supermoon will mark the closest approach to Earth for this year, and November's supermoon will conclude this spellbinding series.

The term "supermoon," more popular than scientific, describes the phenomenon when a full moon aligns with the closest point in its elliptical orbit around the Earth. This radial setup is infrequent, happening three or four times annually in consecutive months due to the moon's ever-altering elliptical path.

"It certainly makes it more fun to stare at," noted Petro, adding that while it’s challenging for casual observers to notice the slight increase in moon size, the brightness is more significant, with a supermoon potentially glowing 30% brighter than its average counterpart. Petro is energized by the renewed focus on lunar exploration in light of ongoing programs like NASA's Artemis, which aims to carry astronauts to the moon.

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