A Summer of “Supermoons” Starts July 12th

The summer of 2014 will be bathed in moonlight as three perigee “supermoons” occur in consecutive months: July 12, August 10, and September 9. Scientists at Nasa have confirmed that this summer will see three of the closest moon viewings in some time. “Supermoons,” a phrase coined over 30 years ago, just became a popular media sensation in the last few years. They are called that because they appear bigger and brighter than ordinary moons due to the angle of the moon’s orbit. The next three moons will fall during perigee, or the moon’s closest point in its rotation around the earth, thus adding to the illusion that the moon is bigger.

The moons in July and September will occur within one day of the perigee, but the truly spectacular viewing should be in August, when the moon-rise will occur within one hour of perigee.

Read more at http://www.the-open-mind.com/a-summer-of-super-moons-begins-on-july-12/#7l0lQYcq0rHKjVBd.99

by Staff