The first Supermoon of the year will occur this Monday (19)

Next Monday (19), the night sky promises a special show for astronomy enthusiasts: first supermoon of the yearThis beautiful event occurs when the Moon is at its full phase, at perigee, the point closest to Earth in its orbit.

The first Supermoon of the year is also called the Seasonal Blue Supermoon because it is the third of four full moons that will occur in the winter of 2024. With four supermoons occurring in a year, this phenomenon is always one of the most anticipated by those who love the night sky.

What characterizes a supermoon?

The term first appeared in an article in Dell Horoscope magazine in 1979, when American astrologer Richard Nolle described a supermoon as occurring when: “A New Moon or Full Moon occurring when the Moon is at or near its closest (90% percentile) position to the Earth in a particular orbit”However, the definition only began to gain traction and become widely used in scientific articles in 2011.

Right now The definition of a supermoon has already been recognized by NASA.and scientific name “Perigee-synchrony of the Earth-Moon-Sun system”can be explained as follows:

Full moon and perigee

Contrary to what many people think, the Moon’s orbit is not perfectly circular, and the distance between the Moon and Earth varies throughout the year. A supermoon occurs when the full Moon coincides with perigee, the closest point between the Moon and Earth.

Earth-Moon-Sun system

Syzygy is an important astronomical concept that refers to the alignment of three or more celestial bodies. Syzygy occurs in the case of the Earth-Moon-Sun system, during new and full moon phases and during eclipses..

How to observe the first supermoon of the year?

On August 19, the full moon rises at 3:26 pm Brasília time, but don’t worry, although for us Brazilians the celestial show starts in the afternoon, it will be possible to admire Brazil’s first supermoon. You can follow the year with the naked eye, without needing any space equipment such as a telescope, for example.

For better observation, it is recommended to go to places further away from the artificial lights of the city due to light pollution. The best times to watch the supermoon are at the beginning of the night and at dawn the next day.

When will the next supermoon occur?

If you’re worried that weather conditions in your city will prevent you from seeing the celestial event, don’t worry, because there are two more supermoons in 2024. So write the next dates in your diary:

• September 17;
• November 17th.

Did you like the content? So you’re always informed about all the celestial events of the year on TecMundo. A wonderful supermoon is watching you and we’ll see you next time!