Luna: Full, fuller, fullest

2013 Supermoon over India     (Photo by Gk1089)

It seems paradoxical to think that a full moon can get any fuller, but that’s where supermoons come into play.

Supermoons come closest to earth at times when they are also “full.”  The 2016 October

moon was fuller than most, but the November one will be fullest of all.  In fact, this “Mega Beaver Moon” will soon appear bigger and brighter than any since 1948.  So rejoice in the heavens on November 13^th to 14^th, for there won’t be another moon like it until 2034.

The term “supermoon” was first coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.  It is now also widely used by astronomers.  NASA reports that a supermoon “can appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual.”

Resources

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2016/11/03/november-supermoon-biggest-nearly-70-years/93234382/ 

Copyright November 4, 2016 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved