The Last Supermoon of the Year is Coming

Here's When to See It

The last supermoon of the year will be visible on July 13th. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. This supermoon will be the third and final one of 2023, following the Strawberry Moon in June and the Buck Moon in July.

What is a supermoon?

A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its closest point to the Earth, which is about 226,000 miles away. This happens because the moon's orbit around the Earth is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse. As a result, the moon's distance from the Earth varies throughout its orbit. When the moon is at its closest point to the Earth, it is said to be at perigee. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at perigee and is also full. This makes the moon appear larger and brighter than usual.

When is the last supermoon of 2023?

The last supermoon of 2023 will occur on July 13th. The moon will be at its closest point to the Earth at 8:08 PM EDT and will reach its peak fullness at 9:36 PM EDT. This means that the best time to see the supermoon will be early in the morning on July 14th, when it will be high in the sky. The supermoon will be visible all night long, but it will be most impressive when it is near the horizon.

What can I expect to see?

During a supermoon, the moon will appear about 7% larger and 15% brighter than usual. It will also have a more orange or red hue. This is because the moon's light has to travel through more of the Earth's atmosphere to reach our eyes, and the atmosphere scatters blue light more than red light. As a result, the moon appears more red or orange when it is near the horizon.

Is it safe to look at a supermoon?

Yes, it is safe to look at a supermoon with the naked eye. However, it is important to avoid looking directly at the sun, even during a supermoon. Looking directly at the sun can damage your eyes.