A gargantuan supermoon is hurtling towards Earth on Wednesday, promising a spectacle unlike any other this year. This celestial event occurs when the moon's elliptical orbit brings it perilously close to our planet, stretching its normally rounded shape to an astonishing degree.
As a result, full moons that coincide with these brief moments of proximity are dubbed supermoons, and they appear 8% larger and about 16% brighter than their typical counterparts. The moon will be a mere 357,000 kilometers from Earth on November 5th – the closest it has been all year.
The dramatic effect of this supermoon is amplified by a phenomenon known as the moon illusion, which tricks our brains into perceiving the moon as larger when its bright limb appears close to the horizon. This optical illusion plays havoc with our perceptions, causing us to underestimate the moon's size as it rises higher in the sky.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday as this supermoon promises to be an unforgettable sight. The full moon is set to rise over the eastern horizon around sunset, with Londoners watching from 15:52 GMT onwards. So, get ready to witness a colossal lunar spectacle unlike any other, as our humble satellite takes center stage in all its enormous glory.
As a result, full moons that coincide with these brief moments of proximity are dubbed supermoons, and they appear 8% larger and about 16% brighter than their typical counterparts. The moon will be a mere 357,000 kilometers from Earth on November 5th – the closest it has been all year.
The dramatic effect of this supermoon is amplified by a phenomenon known as the moon illusion, which tricks our brains into perceiving the moon as larger when its bright limb appears close to the horizon. This optical illusion plays havoc with our perceptions, causing us to underestimate the moon's size as it rises higher in the sky.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday as this supermoon promises to be an unforgettable sight. The full moon is set to rise over the eastern horizon around sunset, with Londoners watching from 15:52 GMT onwards. So, get ready to witness a colossal lunar spectacle unlike any other, as our humble satellite takes center stage in all its enormous glory.