Rare supermoon delights stargazers on New Year's day

Rare supermoon delights stargazers on New Year's day
Copyright REUTERS/Toby Melville
By Euronews
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button

The impressive supermoon lit up the sky during the first night of 2018.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fireworks weren't the only spectacle on New Year's Day—as a mesmorising supermoon appeared in the night sky on January 1.

A supermoon is an optical effect that makes a full moon appear much larger than normal. This happens when a full moon coincides with the moment the moon is closest to the Earth during its elliptical orbit. Supermoons appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than a micromoon, which is when the moon's orbit is furthest away from the Earth. 

First supermoon in 2018

Those who missed out on the New Year moon will have another chance to spot the impressive natural satellite on January 31, when the supermoon happens during a total lunar eclipse. But don't always expect a supermoon twice a month. On average, supermoons occur every 414 days, according to Space.com. 

Share this articleComments

You might also like

December 2017 'supermoon': Everything you need to know

Supermoon eclipse double feature!

How private companies aiming for the Moon are ushering in a new age of space exploration