When asked, "What is a supermoon?"

While the full moon occurs when the moon is at its closest to the Earth during its 29.5-day orbit, we get a supermoon. Due to the elliptical shape of the moon’s orbit around Earth, there are two distinct astronomical events that mark the moon’s closest dordle and furthest approaches to our planet. This closest point is known as perigee by astronomers, and when it coincides with the full moon, it is known as a perigee full moon. The term “supermoon” was used to describe this occurrence very recently.

At 2:33 a.m. UTC on Sunday, February 9th, the moon will be in its full phase, with Earthlit side fully illuminated. That’s Saturday night at 11:33 p.m. EST. This is not an exact match, but the moon will be at perigee only 36 hours later on Monday, February 10.

Beginning with the rising of the moon on the evening of February 8 and ending with its setting on the morning of February 9, 2019. This is due to the fact that the full moon appears pale orange as it rises and sets, and only appears at dusk on “full moon days.” The moon’s closeness to the horizon plus the “supermoon effect” will make it seem exceptionally enormous at that time.

Both the evening of Saturday, February 8, and the morning of Sunday, February 9, will have a full moon. Reason being, during a “full moon day,” the moon rises and sets at around the same time as the sun, giving it a faint orange hue when it does so. At that time, the moon will seem exceptionally enormous because of the “supermoon effect” and its low elevation over the horizon.

The moon will go in front of Mars on February 18th. This unusual event, called an occultation by astronomers, will be visible from North America and involves the Moon passing directly between the Earth and the “red planet.” But the moon won’t be full; rather, it will be a thin crescent in the southeasterly sky. To see Mars seem to pass in front of or behind the moon for around two hours, you’ll need to rise before sunrise.