LAST "SUPER" MOON FOR 2017

The last supermoon of 2017 is on December 3 and this how is it different to a normal moon
If you missed seeing last year's supermoon first-hand, there is another chance next month

BACK in November 2016, Brits were given a glimpse of the rare but stunning supermoon.

If you didn't manage to see it thanks to the rubbish weather, there is another chance to catch the phenomenon next month.




In November, the supermoon will be the biggest of the year
When was the last supermoon?
The astrological wonder, on November 14, marked the closest the moon had come to Earth since January 26, 1948.

The next supermoon occurs on December 3 - however, it will be smaller than last year's event.

The next time a full moon will come even closer to Earth will be on November 25, 2034 - so space fans should stick the date in their electronic diaries now.

What is a supermoon?
It wasn’t until 1979 that Richard Nolle first defined the supermoon, which is now a widely-used term.

The astrologer explained that the phenomenon is “a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.”

Based on Nolle’s theory, the moon would have to be 226,000 miles away from the Earth to be considered ‘super’.

Because of its relatively close proximity to the Earth, the celestial body’s surface appears a lot bigger when a supermoon occurs.

How often does it happen?

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A Super Moon eclipse as seen on September 28, 2015
The scientific event is fairly uncommon, as it can occur around every 14 full moons.

The last one occurred on November 14 2016, when the moon appeared upto 14% bigger and 30% brighter than normal.

It was the closest Supermoon to the Earth all year, reaching an orbit of 221,500 miles away.

While the space event provides spectacular views, it is made even more incredible when it coincides with a lunar eclipse.

The last time this happened was on September 27th last year, and it won’t return again until 2033.

What are the effects?

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A blood supermoon rises behind the Empire State Building during a total lunar eclipse in New York
Even though a full moon is sometimes associated with madness and lunacy, there’s no evidence that it actually has any effect on humans.

Despite this, a supermoon is believed to have an impact on the Earth’s waters.

When a full moon is closer to our planet, the tide levels are often higher.