The phenomenon seen looming out of the sky on Sunday night was the biggest supermoon of 2014, appearing larger than anything seen in the sky for decades.
The reason for the moon’s appearance, and for the hype surrounding the second supermoon of the year, is because its orbit brought it the closest it has been to the Earth in 20 years.
This was due to two variables: firstly, this moon was known as a perigee moon, which occurs when the moon hits the point of its orbit closest to the Earth, which usually means being around 30,000 miles from the planet. Sunday night’s moon was about 863 miles closer.
Secondly, Sunday night’s moon became full within the same hour of being at the perigee point in its orbit, making it appear bigger and brighter than usual, too.
Supermoon tonight! #supermoon2014 @love_belfast @Love_NI_ @DiscoverNI @Love_NIreland pic.twitter.com/b7ySckNz3s
— Emma Gornall Photography (@EmGornall) August 10, 2014
Best photo of #supermoon #supermoon2014 #SupermoonSunday by @Johndelx pic.twitter.com/6bHawKnpVq
— Love Belfast ❤️ (@love_belfast) August 10, 2014
@love_belfast #supermoon pic.twitter.com/phA2QHp6W9
— franke eltanke (@rocketqueen81) August 10, 2014
Biggest, brightest supermoon of 2014 rises Sunday http://t.co/skNsbDGmpB pic.twitter.com/6Gwes9dP6E
— CBC News (@CBCNews) August 11, 2014
35 stunning pictures of the #supermoon from around the world http://t.co/sh8YPEH6oC #PhotoBlog pic.twitter.com/E18CT863yX
— Times of India (@timesofindia) August 11, 2014
Supermoon in saintfield tonight pic.twitter.com/O4eSyxmSRT
— Love Belfast ❤️ (@love_belfast) August 10, 2014
Anyone get any photos of the #supermoon pic.twitter.com/eiC8zjxJFN
— Love Belfast ❤️ (@love_belfast) August 10, 2014
#81014 #supermoon #sundayride #beautiful #ocean http://t.co/s29IzhIWx5
— Amber Wotton (@amberw220) August 11, 2014
https://twitter.com/twavitz/status/498794511091245056
Supermoon in the skies, here in Tagum City Philippines. #supermoon http://t.co/WloSsIS3nf
— Cyril⌚️Turco (@lord_cykb24) August 11, 2014
Supermoon over Vermont Sunday. Photo by @wej12 #supermoon http://t.co/yoDJaWSa3Y
— BurlingtonFreePress (@bfp_news) August 11, 2014
https://twitter.com/KnobBonky/status/498794227523125249
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