Final Supermoon of 2014 Visible Across New England This Week

By Sherri Lonon

Sky watchers might want to set a reminder to step outside Monday night or early Tuesday morning to take in the last of this summer’s trio of supermoons.

The third and final perigee moon is set to rise soon with the best viewing around 9:38 p.m. Monday, according to Discovery News. The weather will cooperate, as mostly clear skies are in the forecast for all of New England.

Also known as a Harvest Moon, a “supermoon” occurs when the full moon rises on the perigee side of the moon’s orbit, which is closer to the earth. The end result is a moon that looks bigger and brighter.

This summer has already given rise to two other supermoons in July and August.

While quite a sight to behold, supermoons aren’t all that uncommon, according to Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory.

“Generally speaking, full moons occur near perigee every 13 months and 18 days, so it’s not all that unusual,” NASA quoted him as saying.

Photo credit: Greg Hogan via Flickr