Get ready for a celestial spectacle! This week, prepare to be amazed by the year's most impressive supermoon. But what exactly is a supermoon, and why should you care? Well, let's dive in!
It all boils down to the moon's orbit. It's not a perfect circle around our planet; instead, it's an ellipse. This means the moon's distance from Earth varies. Sometimes, it's closer; other times, it's farther away.
When a full moon aligns with the moon being within 10% of its closest point to Earth, we get a supermoon. This close proximity makes the moon appear subtly larger and brighter than your average full moon.
Mark your calendars for November 5, 2025! On this day, the moon will be a mere 357,000 km from Earth. This close encounter means we'll witness the year's largest supermoon. Prepare for a visual treat: it will appear about 8% larger and approximately 16% brighter than usual!
Watching the moon rise is always a treat, but the supermoon offers an extra dose of drama. It will emerge in the east around sunset, around 15:52 GMT for London, a truly breathtaking sight. This dramatic effect is partly due to something called the moon illusion. This phenomenon makes the moon appear larger when it's near the horizon, especially when compared to objects on the horizon. As the moon climbs higher in the sky, our brains play tricks on us, making it seem smaller, even though its actual size hasn't changed.
Do you find the moon illusion fascinating? What other astronomical events do you find most captivating? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
