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'Super moon' to shine over New Zealand tonight

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 4 Dec 2017, 5:04PM
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'Super moon' to shine over New Zealand tonight

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 4 Dec 2017, 5:04PM

A super moon will light up our skies this evening, but if you won't be able to witness the phenomenon, we have great news.

Monday night's supermoon is set to be one of three opportunities to view the rare moon, with NASA naming the event the "Supermoon Trilogy".

The moon will be at its closest to Earth during its elliptical orbit, and will be 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than normal.

NASA research scientists said it was an exciting time for Kiwis.

"Supermoons are a great opportunity for people to start looking at the moon - not just that once, but every chance they have."

If you miss tonight's sighting, there will be a second supermoon on January 2, while the third will be on January 31.

The third supermoon has skygazers jumping with the moon expected to become a "blue moon", the second full moon in a calendar month.

It will coincide with a lunar eclipse making it both a blue and "blood moon".

It is expected the moon will move into Earth's shadow at 11.51pm before the full eclipse at 1.51am.

Blue moons occur every two-and-a-half years.

 

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