Supermoons and their heralded occurrences may be something you've grown tired of hearing about, but the upcoming lunar event on the eve of Nov. 14 is one you'll genuinely not want to miss.
According to NASA, the full moon that rises on Nov. 13 will be the closest one to Earth since 1948. If viewing conditions are clear, the moon will not only appear 30 percent brighter, but also 14 percent larger. While the nighttime viewing is supposed to be spectacular, the true closest approach of the supermoon will take place on the morning of Nov. 14 at 8:52 a.m. EST.
Just how special is this super supermoon? Humanity won't get another show like this one until Nov. 25, 2034.
So what exactly again is a supermoon? Here's NASA's brief explanation to refresh your memory:
Since the moon’s orbit is elliptical, one side (perigee) is about 30,000 miles closer to Earth than the other (apogee). The word syzygy, in addition to being useful in word games, is the scientific name for when the Earth, sun, and moon line up as the moon orbits Earth. When perigee-syzygy of the Earth-moon-sun system occurs and the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun, we get a perigee moon or more commonly, a supermoon!
The arrival of the November supermoon will also bring a return of the "king tides," with the moon's alignment with the sun exerting a stronger-than-usual gravitational pull on Earth's oceans. A supermoon in October 2015, combined with rising sea levels, a slowing Gulf current, and onshore winds, caused historic flooding in parts of the coastal southeastern United States.
For those who miss the November show, don't fret. To close out 2016, another supermoon will rise on Dec.14, as the helpful video below explains:
Original article and pictures take http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/blogs/largest-supermoon-seven-decades-rises-November site
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