There has been an incredible buzz on the Internet. Our newsfeeds have been inundated with pictures of the blood red moon and shining moon faces and people across the globe are waiting in anticipation for the ‘supermoon’. This celestial scene will play out on September 28, 2015, i.e. tonight. If you’re in Delhi, the Nehru Planetarium is doing a special viewing where you can catch a glimpse of the supermoon in all its glory between 6.30 PM and 8.30 PM today.
On the heels of the ‘supermoon’ we really cannot have enough fun-facts. Here’s something that might help you enjoy it better .
1. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its shortest distance from the earth. This is called a perigee.
During a supermoon, the moon appears 30 % brighter and 15 % larger.
2. The technical name for a supermoon is the perigee–syzygy.
The word ‘Perigee’ comes from the Greek word ‘Perigeion’ which means close around the Earth. It was the astrologer Richard Nolle who coined the term supermoon.
3. The full moon and perigee have to realign for the occurrence of the supermoon. And this usually takes place once in a period of a year and 48 days.
Which means that the next supermoon will be on November 14, 2016.
4. A supermoon might be able to change the tides slightly, but it certainly won’t cause any natural disasters.
And on the eve of this year’s highlight was a rare event – ‘ Super Blood Moon ‘ – which occurs when a supermoon is coupled with a lunar eclipse.
5. In some religions and civilisations, a Super Blood Moon is considered as the symbol of the ‘End of Days’.
Although, NASA assures us that there are no comets flying around that might hit Earth at any time soon.
6. Some people also believe that the Super Blood Moon will either turn you into a lunatic or a werewolf.
However, researchers and scientists claim that the event has no repercussions on the health of a person.
7. It is the final of a tetrad of total lunar eclipses, or a series of four, which began in April 2014.
8. According to NASA, the last time we saw a total lunar eclipse of a supermoon was in 1982. It won’t happen again until 2033.
