Monday, 14 November 2016. From Apprx 5pm. (GMT)
The moon will be the brightest and biggest it has been for over 60 years. If you are lucky enough to have clear skies, it could be a great opportunity to get some lunar photos. The 'supermoon', AKA 'perigee full moon' will be slightly larger than normal. (Also called the 'Beaver Moon' as ancient hunters would lay traps in November in Northern areas before snows and freezing). Don't be fooled by reports of the "Huge moon" or "filling the sky", chances are you won't see much difference. Don't expect too much and you will just enjoy the experience.
The reasons for a 'Supermoon' are based in science and our relationship with Earth's natural satellite. This full moon coincides with the moon being the closest it gets to the Earth on its elliptical orbit ( Perigee ). At about 8PM (GMT), the moon will pass the Earth at a distance of ~357,000km – the closest pass since 1948. Before and after this time, it will appear to be 10-15% larger than 'normal'. In the UK, 'Moonrise' will be just before 5pm.
Get outside, take some pictures and marvel at our place in the solar system. You won't see a full moon this close again until 2034 - that's 18 years. Here is a picture I took of the last one earlier in 2016.
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