Don't Fear the Supermoon, NASA Says

by Miriam Kramer, SPACE.com Staff Writer

Date: 21 June 2013 Time: 09:16 AM ET

Shawn Vasquez caught the supermoon on May 5, 2012, from a vantage point in Nipomo, California. Nipomo lies about 10 miles south of Pismo Beach CREDIT: Shawn Vasquez  View full size image

There is no reason for anybody to dread the largest full moon of 2013, known as the "supermoon," a NASA scientist says.

On Sunday (June 23), the moon will reach perigee — the closest point to Earth in the rocky satellite's orbit around the planet. Although some people have suggested that the supermoon might drive people crazy, cause natural disasters and wreak havoc on the tides, there is scant evidence in support of those claims, NASA assures.

NASA planetary geologist Noah Petro said today (June 21) that while the tides might be slightly higher because of the moon's close approach, it won't make a noticeable difference for the average observer. The only thing that humans might experience this weekend is a good lunar show. [Amazing Supermoon Photos of 2012]s

"There should be no impact on anybody on the Earth," Petro said during a series of televised interviews on NASA TV. "There should be nothing unusual except maybe for more people staring up at the moon, which should be a wonderful thing."

You can watch a live webcast of the supermoon on SPACE.com on Sunday beginning at 9 p.m. EDT (0100 June 24 GMT), courtesy of the Slooh Space Camera, an online skywatching website (http://www.slooh.com).

To skywatchers that have been monitoring the moon recently, Earth's lunar neighbor could look slightly larger and brighter this weekend, but it might be difficult for the average observer to notice a difference in this full moon and the 11 other full moons this year, Petro said.

"It's a subtle difference," Petro said. "It really is a reward for people that are looking at the moon quite regularly."

Still, Petro said, everybody should step outside to see the supermoon, weather permitting.

The moon will reach its peak fullness on Sunday at 7:32 a.m. EDT (1132 GMT). About half an hour before that, the moon will reach perigee, making it appear about 12 percent closer to the Earth than the full moon will be at apogee — the farthest point in the satellite's orbit — on Jan. 16 of next year.

Seen from West Orange, New Jersey, the full moon hangs over the Manhattan skyline like a celestial clementine Sunday night. In general, the moon appears redder near the horizon, because its light is passing through more of our planet's thick atmosphere than when the moon is higher—the atmosphere tends to scatter blue light, letting mostly red wavelengths through.
CREDIT: Gary Hershorn/Reuters

At its closest approach on Sunday, the moon will be about 221,824 miles (356,991 kilometers) from Earth. On average, the moon is about 238,900 miles (384,402 kilometers) from the Earth.

The best time to catch the lunar wonder is just after sunset on Saturday night, but anytime this weekend will do, Petro said. Simply walk outside and look to the east today, Saturday or Sunday to catch the cosmic show.