SUPERMOONS – What are they?

SUPERMOONS – WHAT ARE THEY?

An Article By Luisa Follano with The Voice 

Supermoons

We have some of the clearest skies here in Fuerteventura, and the lack of light pollution and smog means that when it comes to looking upwards, we have one of the best views on earth. Astrologers and photographers were out in force on the 22^nd and 23^rd of June, as we were treated to a supermoon, which was quite a sight for all.

What is a supermoon?

A supermoon is a moon that appears larger in size than normal, because it is at its closest point to earth at a particular time, in its lunar cycle. The phrase ‘ supermoon’ was created by an astrologer called Richard Nolle around thirty years ago, to describe what he referred to as “a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.”

Full moons & new moons

When the moon is described as full or new it means that the earth is at its complete opposite point from the sun. This happens once a month and has all sorts of effects on nature, both on land and in the oceans. When this occurs the moon is at its closest point to the earth and in astronomer’s terms is called a ‘pedigree’. The opposite of this is known as the ‘Apogee’ where the moon is farthest away.

The Pedigree Supermoon

More often than not, there is one day in the year, where the moons annual and monthly lunar cycles coincide. This brings together the usual monthly pedigree with the annual one… which results in the moon being closer to the earth than normal and appearing larger or ‘super’ in size. The scientific term for this is a ‘proxigee’, but as it is quite a mounthful a new term called the Supermoon was created.

When is the next Supermoon?

Because we can track and understand the lunar cycles, astrologers are able to predict the next supermoon with some accuracy, and it calculates to every one year, one month and 18 days. So if you missed the last one, you won’t have to wait long for the next.