I Love Science
Super Moon 2017...
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The first (and only) super moon of 2017 will occur on December 3rd.
What exactly is a super moon?
The moon does not orbit the Earth in a circle, but an ellipse. As such, there are times when the moon is at its farthest point from the Earth (apogee) or its closest point to the Earth (perigee).
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When a full moon coincides with its perigee, it is called a super moon.
As a result, the moon will appear about 16% brighter and 7% larger than usual.
The first (and only) super moon of 2017 will occur on December 3rd.
What exactly is a super moon?
The moon does not orbit the Earth in a circle, but an ellipse. As such, there are times when the moon is at its farthest point from the Earth (apogee) or its closest point to the Earth (perigee).
When a full moon coincides with its perigee, it is called a super moon.
As a result, the moon will appear about 16% brighter and 7% larger than usual.
