The Biggest Supermoon of 2022 is set to appear the night sky on July 13 and the best time to view the moon that will arrive at its closest point to the Earth for this year is from a vantage point when it rises. The moon will be at its closest point in its elliptical orbit around the Earth, called perigee, which will make it appear like a “Supermoon”.
The Supermoon will appear full for about next three days. People around the world will be able to witness it from early Tuesday morning till Friday early morning.
There will be four full Supermoons in total this year, with the third occurring this week. It is predicted that the next Supermoon will happen on August 12th, according to NASA.
Out of the four Supermoons this year, this will be the closest to Earth, appearing bigger and brighter than usual, with the Moon being only 3,57,264 kilometres away from the Earth, as compared to the average distance of 384,472km.
Supermoons occur when a full moon is within 90 per cent of perigee or the point where the moon is closest to Earth in its orbit. This celestial phenomenon causes the moon to appear bigger and brighter than usual. Thus the moon can appear up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than a full moon when it is furthest away from the Earth.
It’s also known as a buck moon since it falls in July. This is the time when the new antlers of the buck or male deer grow out of their foreheads. “Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by”, as Maine Farmer’s Almanac says.
According to US space agency, Supermoons have an effect on Earth and can cause higher tides than usual because the Moon is in its closest point to the blue planet. As per Astronomers, coastal storms at sea around this time could lead to aggravated coastal flooding.
The last Supermoon also known as ‘Strawberry Moon’ – took place on June 14, which marked the last full Moon of spring or the first full moon of summer, according to native Americans.
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Where to watch in Dubai
Astronomy enthusiasts can witness the rare celestial event at Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre, Mushrif Park in Dubai from 6-8pm on Wednesday. A lecture explaning the supermoon phenomenon would be followed by a Q&A session, followed by observations using naked eye and telescopic instruments.
When to watch the biggest Supermoon
The brightest Supermoon or Buck moon will appear the night sky from 6:07pm, on Wednesday, July 13 in the Emirates and can be spotted with your naked eye. For more enhanced view, a binoculars or a telescope will help.
