Heads up! Supermoon is here

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A plane flies pasts a supermoon as a palm tree grows in the foreground during a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium, Saturday, July 12, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Look! Up in the sky! It's supermoon!

Because our celestial neighbor is relatively close to Earth, these full moons will appear to be unusually large. That distance varies because the moon follows an . When it's close and full, it appears bigger and brighter than normal, although the difference can be hard to detect.

The full Saturday may seem huge, but it's just an illusion caused by its position in the .

Two other supermoons will come later this summer on Aug. 10 and Sept. 9.

Check out these supermoons from around the world:

Heads up! Supermoon is here
The full moon peeks through the clouds over forest near Sarajevo,Bosnia, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The so-called super moon appeared up to 14 percent larger than normal as it's orbit is at it's closest point to earth.(AP Photo/Amel Emric)


Heads up! Supermoon is here
A perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, is seen behind lanterns, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
An early morning view of an full moon at Chiantla, in the northern Cuchumatanes mountains of Guatemala, Saturday, July 12, 2014. Because the moon is relatively close to Earth, the full moon today will appear to be unusually large. That distance varies because the moon follows an elliptical orbit. The full moon Saturday may seem huge, but it's just an illusion caused by its position in the sky. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
View of the National Stadium with moonrise after the third place finish World Cup match between Brazil and the Netherlands, outside the National Stadium in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, July 12, 2014. Because the moon is relatively close to Earth, the full moon today will appear to be unusually large. The full moon Saturday may seem huge, but it's just an illusion caused by its position in the sky. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, is seen behind Israelis sitting and standing on a hill at the Israeli town of Sderot, overlooking the Gaza Strip, as they wait to watch Israeli forces' bombardment and missiles fired by Palestinian militants from inside Gaza towards Israel, Saturday, July 12, 2014. A perigee moon, also known as a supermoon. The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A perigee moon also known as a supermoon rises above Dojran Lake in southeastern Macedonia, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon in its elliptical orbit is relatively close to Earth and seen from the Earth near the horizon, appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
Traffic streaks by the supermoon as it rises behind the Memorial Bridge in Washington, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The full moon Saturday may seem huge, but it's just an illusion caused by its position in the sky. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, rises beyond flags at Kauffman Stadium during a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, centre, appears between traditional Ramadan lanterns that decorate a building in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A supermoon rises behind fans during a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium, Saturday, July 12, 2014, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
Pakistani families visit a park as a perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, rises in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, rises over the Queens borough of New York, Saturday, July 12, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A palm tree is silhouetted against a supermoon in Whittier, Calif., Saturday, July 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Heads up! Supermoon is here
A supermoon, rises in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Shingle Springs, Calif., Saturday, July 12, 2014. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: Heads up! Supermoon is here (2014, July 13) retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2014-07-supermoon.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Heads up! Supermoon coming Saturday; 3 this summer

0 shares

Feedback to editors