Space
Spectacular Supermoon Lights Up the Night Sky (PHOTOS)
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Aug 12, 2014 11:23 AM EDT
On the evening of Sunday, Aug. 10, a spectacular supermoon lit up the skies. This moon, which is technically known as a "perigee full moon," was captured by photographers across the globe and now, we've given you a few of the best images.
A supermoon actually isn't all that rare, and it's the second one of the three that are supposed to occur this year. Supermoons, or perigee full moons, occur when the moon makes its closest approach to Earth right when it reaches its full phase. This makes the moon appear both brighter and larger than usual.
That said, this August's supermoon was especially spectacular. It was at its closest to Earth for 2014 and appeared 16 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than normal. In fact, the moon won't experience the perfect timing that it did on Aug. 10 until the year 2034.
Not surprisingly, people showed up in force to watch the moon rise above cities and the countryside. Many snapped photos of the event and now, we've selected a few images to show just how amazing this particular moon was.
Don't worry if you missed this supermoon, though. Another one will be coming along in September. Look to the skies on Sept. 9 to catch a glimpse of the last supermoon of the year. Until then, though, there's always the option of watching the Perseid meteor shower, which is peaking over the next few days.
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NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
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First Posted: Aug 12, 2014 11:23 AM EDT
On the evening of Sunday, Aug. 10, a spectacular supermoon lit up the skies. This moon, which is technically known as a "perigee full moon," was captured by photographers across the globe and now, we've given you a few of the best images.
A supermoon actually isn't all that rare, and it's the second one of the three that are supposed to occur this year. Supermoons, or perigee full moons, occur when the moon makes its closest approach to Earth right when it reaches its full phase. This makes the moon appear both brighter and larger than usual.
That said, this August's supermoon was especially spectacular. It was at its closest to Earth for 2014 and appeared 16 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than normal. In fact, the moon won't experience the perfect timing that it did on Aug. 10 until the year 2034.
Not surprisingly, people showed up in force to watch the moon rise above cities and the countryside. Many snapped photos of the event and now, we've selected a few images to show just how amazing this particular moon was.
Don't worry if you missed this supermoon, though. Another one will be coming along in September. Look to the skies on Sept. 9 to catch a glimpse of the last supermoon of the year. Until then, though, there's always the option of watching the Perseid meteor shower, which is peaking over the next few days.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone