Experts say the supermoon in August will be the biggest of 2014, and you can watch it as it happens.
A supermoon is any full moon that coincides with perigee – the time when the moon’s orbit brings it closest to Earth. Astronomers call it a “perigee full moon,” and they happen about every 13 months.
On August 10, perigee happens just 26 minutes before the moon officially reaches its full phase at 1:10 p.m. Central time.
Experts say the best time to see the August 10 supermoon is from the time the full moon begins to rise, around 7:30 p.m., until just after local sunset (around 8 p.m.) that day. The supermoon will also be visible, but perhaps not quite as spectacular, Saturday evening around those same times.
To us, a supermoon appears as if the moon is very large, and very close to the horizon.
Supermoons can be up to 14 percent closer and 30 percent brighter than other full moons, according to NASA.
The next supermoon happens September 9, 2014.
Want more? There’s also a big meteor shower happening August 10 through 13 –> How you can see the 2014 Perseid meteor shower August 10 through 13
