SINGAPORE — Mark your calendars, star gazers: The full moon on Nov 14 will be the closest to date in the 21st century, making it an “extra-super moon”, said the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The last time the supermoon was this close was almost 70 years ago in Jan 26, 1948. The next time the phenomenon will occur is on Nov 25, 2034, said NASA.
The upcoming supermoon can be viewed at its biggest at 9.52pm, Singapore time.
A supermoon refers “broadly to a full moon that is closer to Earth than average”, said NASA. This occurs when the closest part of the moon’s orbit (perigee) lines up with the Earth and sun (syzygy). As such, the moon will appear “as much as 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter”.
Dr Tan Ei-Leen, Deputy Director, Physical Sciences, Science Centre Singapore (SCS) said: “The supermoon can be viewed from anywhere in Singapore that gives you a good view of the sky — definitely don’t need dark skies to view something as bright as the moon, so long as there is no cloud cover.”
There are no viewing sessions planned on Nov 14 at the SCS, but regular Friday evening stargazing sessions will still take place on Nov 4, 11 and 18, with the moon visible through their telescopes on Nov 4 and Nov 11.
Nov 14’s supermoon is one of three this year — an earlier instance was on Oct 16 and another supermoon will be on Dec 14.
Setting #supermoon 54 time lapse photos: https://t.co/SczSn2Wnfy pic.twitter.com/tZx5bFkISb
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From tonight’s #fullmoon in #Seattle : Super Moon? What #supermoon …? pic.twitter.com/IgAGcomAst
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