A supermoon will light up the night sky this week and will be the closest full moon to Earth this year. A more common term than the scientific term, a supermoon occurs when the full moon phase coincides with a particularly close oscillation around the Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year in a row, due to the moon’s ever-changing elliptical orbit. A supermoon can appear larger than a regular full moon, although scientists say only the most careful observers can tell the difference. But the change in brightness is easier to spot – a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average. Since it comes after last month’s Harvest Moon, this full moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon because hunters can see animals more easily since harvesters can reap the fields. The moon will be 95% full Tuesday night, but it will be 100% full Wednesday and Thursday night, according to Total Weather in Maine. Meteorologist Colleen Hurley. Moonrise is at 5:06 p.m. Tuesday and 5:28 p.m. Wednesday. “As the sun sets to the west, look to the northeast to see the moon rising,” Hurley said. Additionally, Mainers have a chance to see a rare comet during the nights. The next few days will see comets with clear skies. Comet Tsuchenshan-Atlas should be bright enough to see with the naked eye, but binoculars and telescopes will give a better view. The comet, also called C/2023 A3, was discovered last year and is named after the observatories in China and South Africa that spied it. It came from what is known as the Oort Cloud outside Pluto and after making its closest approach to Earth, it will not return for another 80,000 years – assuming it survives the journey 45 minutes “After sunset, if you look toward the western horizon, you might be able to faintly see that comet,” Hurley said. It occurs over a period of four months. August’s full moon was marked by a supermoon and a blue moon, while September’s full moon was a partially eclipsed superharvest moon. The supermoon in November will be 224,853 miles from Earth. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
A supermoon will light up the night sky this week and will be the closest full moon to Earth this year.
It is a common term rather than a scientific term. Supermoon It occurs when the full moon phase coincides with a particularly close oscillation around the Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and in a row, due to the Moon’s ever-changing elliptical orbit.
A supermoon can appear larger than a normal full moon, although scientists say the difference can only be discerned by the most careful observers. But the change in brightness is easier to spot, as a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.
Because it comes after last month’s Harvest Moon, this full moon is known as the Hunter’s Moon because hunters can see animals more easily since harvesters have reaped the fields.
The moon will be 95% full Tuesday night, but it will be 100% full Wednesday and Thursday night, according to Total Weather in Maine.
“We’ll have perfect viewing conditions as well,” WMTW meteorologist Colleen Hurley said.
Moonrise will be at 5:06 pm on Tuesday and 5:28 pm on Wednesday.
“When the sun sets in the west, look to the northeast to see the moon rising,” Hurley said.
In addition, Mainers have a chance to see a rare comet over the next few nights with clear skies.
Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas should be bright enough to see with the naked eye, but binoculars and telescopes will give a better view.
The comet, also called C/2023 A3, was discovered last year and named after observatories in China and South Africa that spied it. It came from what is known as the Oort Cloud outside Pluto.
After reaching its closest distance, about 44 million miles (71 million kilometers) from Earth, it will not return for another 80,000 years, assuming it survives the journey.
“About 45 minutes after sunset, if you look toward the western horizon, you might be able to faintly see that comet,” Hurley said.
Sunset on Tuesday at 5:56 p.m
Hunter’s supermoon, which will be 222,055 miles from Earth, is the third of four supermoons to occur over a four-month period.
August’s full moon was marked by a supermoon and a blue moon, while September’s full moon was a partially eclipsed supermoon.
November’s supermoon will be 224,853 miles from Earth.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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