{"id":9851,"date":"2017-12-03T11:08:14","date_gmt":"2017-12-03T15:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=9851"},"modified":"2017-12-03T11:08:14","modified_gmt":"2017-12-03T15:08:14","slug":"supermoon-to-brighten-up-skies-for-stargazers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/supermoon-to-brighten-up-skies-for-stargazers\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Supermoon’ to brighten up skies for stargazers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Skywatchers could catch a glimpse of a so-called “supermoon” – when the Moon appears larger and brighter in the sky.<\/p>

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At 15:47 GMT the Moon will appear about 7% larger and 15% brighter, with moonrise about 45 minutes later.<\/p>\n

The phenomenon happens when the Moon reaches its closest point to Earth, known as a perigee Moon.<\/p>

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The Moon circuits the Earth in an elliptical or oval orbit – a supermoon occurs when the perigee Moon is also a full Moon.<\/p>

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Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society, said it will appear brightest at midnight – when at its highest point above the horizon.<\/p>\n

The Met Office’s UK forecast suggests there will be clear spells this afternoon, so the supermoon may be visible.<\/p>

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Last year the Moon made its closest approach to Earth since 1948<\/a>\u00a0– it won’t be that close again until 25 November 2034.<\/p>\n

Nasa has called this weekend’s sighting the first in a “supermoon trilogy”<\/a>over the next two months, with others to come on 1 January and 31 January.<\/p>

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