October Supermoon 2023: First of Three Spectacular Lunar Events This Year

This Monday night, sky watchers will witness the first supermoon of the year, appearing notably larger and brighter than usual.

New York:

Astronomers anticipate an enhanced lunar display Monday evening during what scientists refer to as a supermoon phenomenon.

October's supermoon marks the initial occurrence of three such events scheduled for this year. The phenomenon happens when the full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit. According to NASA, this proximity makes the moon appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter compared to when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth. This celestial event occurs several times annually, occasionally aligning with other astronomical phenomena such as lunar eclipses.

"It's not really very unusual," explained Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

The supermoon will be visible worldwide to anyone under clear skies, requiring no specialized equipment for viewing. However, the enhanced size may be difficult to perceive, particularly for those who haven't observed the regular moon during preceding nights.

"If you go out and just look at the moon when it's very high in the sky, there is nothing relative to it to give you an idea of how big it looks," Pitts noted.

During this particular occurrence, the moon will approach within approximately 224,600 miles (361,459 kilometers) of Earth. November will feature the year's closest supermoon, followed by another in December.

Looking ahead to 2026, lunar enthusiasts can anticipate two eclipses: a total eclipse visible across much of North America, Asia, and Australia in March, and a partial eclipse observable from the Americas, Africa, and Europe in August.

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