‘Supermoon’ lights up Earth for only time in 2017

World
Europe

Moving towards its closest point around Earth, the moon tonight will also be a full one, manifesting as a giant round orb in the sky that is expected to brighten up the darkness of the "blue planet."

For the last time in 2017, the two factors combined will create (in some regions is creating) what is called the “supermoon” phenomenon.

Supermoon, Beijing, China. Photo by China News Agency

While spinning, the moon is revolving around Earth along an elliptical orbit, one side of which (apogee) is about 30,000 miles (50,000 km) farther from Earth than the other (perigee).

"Nearby perigee full moons appear about 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than full moons that occur near apogee in the Moon's orbit,” explained an article by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA.

On November 14, 2016 the moon appeared particularly tremendous as it arrived at the closest point to Earth since 1948. Not until 2034 can people see the “supermoon” show up looking about the same size.

But a less “super” full moon can still be expected in the near future. According to NASA, the silver lunar orb will shine across the sky again on January 1, 2018 and January 31, 2018 with gusto.