CHENNAI: It was a visual delight as for the first time in nearly 70 years, skygazers at 1922 hrs tonight, witnessed the latest ‘Super Moon’, as Earth’s satellite makes its closest approach since 1948.
The Moon will be at its closest – only 221,524 miles (356,509 km) away – and it would appear about 14 per cent larger than normal and about 30 per cent brighter, although the human eye was barely able to discern that difference.
Ths Super Moon would provide a rare spectacle to the sky watchers as the next instance would occur only on November 25, 2034. The ‘Supermoon’ as it is called. could been seen across the planet, and it was the closest full moon after 1948.
In simple words when the moon is full and when it makes its closest pass to Earth, it is known as a supermoon. This supermoon was seen in India after dusk. Today, the full moon was 356,509 km from the Earth, the closest ever since January 1948, when it was nearly 47-km closer.
There won’t be another such supe rmoon until 2034, when it will be even more closer to Earth, at 356,445 km. The super moon’s scientific name is perigee-syzygy. SPACE Chennai organised super moon observation at a private school at suburban Tambaram for its 150 students and their parents from 1800 hrs to 2000 hrs today. (AGENCIES)
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