Nicknamed the “super snow moon” can be enjoyed in all its splendor from sunset this Tuesday. It is the largest full Moon of the year since it is the time when our satellite will be closest to Earth. But it will not be its only peculiarity: you will also be able to see the brightest full Moon in seven years since the phenomenon will not repeat itself until 2026.It is the second supermoon of the year, which receives its “snowy surname” due to its coincidence with winter in the northern hemisphere. The previous one, which took place on January 21, coincided with an eclipse; and the following will take place on March 21, coinciding with the spring equinox.
THE SUPERMOON ONLY LASTS A MOMENT
Technically, the exact phenomenon of the full moon occurs only in moments. And that moment occurred exactly at 4:53 p.m. in the afternoon. The moment our satellite appears on the horizon it will not be a full Moon, but a waning gibbous.Still, those who want to enjoy this show should not worry, since the difference of just a few hours (and even a day before and after the day indicated by the lunar calendar) is not perceptible by the human eye and we will be able to observe a disk 10% larger than usual, being the largest Moon of all 2019. We will also notice its brightness, which will be 30% more than other nights and whose brightness will not look the same until 2026. This full Moon is so special because the distance between it and our planet is “only” 356,761 kilometers and coincides with the moment when it is closest to our planet, a moment called perigee.
This event will be visible from anywhere on the globe, as long as the clouds allow it and there is no excessive light pollution.Meanwhile, on the far side of the Moon.But while from Earth we enjoy the spectacle, the dark side of the Moon is experiencing its night, which lasts approximately two Earth weeks.During the lunar night on the opposite side, temperatures can drop to 310 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 190 degrees Celsius), as has been verified by the Chinese probe Change-4 and its rover, the Yutu-2, who at the same time are exploring the area. Therefore, while this Tuesday you look at the phenomenon of the super snow moon, remember these devices that continue to work to unravel the mysteries of our brilliant satellite.
