Supermoons of 2024: What is it and when is the next sighting?

This year will witness four supermoons in a row. So, when is the next one?

By: Science Desk
New Delhi | Updated: July 25, 2024 08:09 PM IST

3 min read

The year 2024 will have four supermoons.

Supermoons are a common phenomenon and one can expect three to four supermoons each year. (Image: Freepik)

A supermoon is slightly larger and brighter than the usual full moon. This phenomenon is when the Moon’s perigee or the point in the orbit of the moon is nearest to the Earth. Sometimes this coincides with a full Moon and at that point, it is known as a supermoon. Now, the big question is when will be the next supermoon?

Reportedly, the next supermoon will take place on August 19 at 2.26 pm ET which is 11:56 pm in India. This is the first supermoon of the year. Interestingly, the last supermoon was a rare occurrence as it was combined with a blue moon and took place on the full moon of August 30, 2023. This was rare as it is not going to happen again till 2037.

The first supermoon of 2024

According to Space.com, eclipse expert and former Nasa astrophysicist, Fred Espanak, claimed that there will be four supermoons in 2024. They will occur in August, September, October, and November. Espanak defines a supermoon as a full moon within 90 per cent of its closest approach to Earth. Based on his claims, the closest supermoon of 2024 is slated to happen on 17 October at 7:26 am ET which would be 4:56 pm in IST.

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Supermoons are a common phenomenon and one can expect three to four supermoons each year. While the word supermoon came into practice only in the last four decades, it gained attention in 2016 after three supermoons appeared in a row.

What causes a supermoon?

The Moon’s orbit around the Earth is not a perfect circle, and it is around 3,82,900 kms away. Its apogee and perigee vary each month due to gravitational forces from the Earth, Sun, and other planets. NASA’s Noah Petro in an interview with Space.com explained that these forces cause the moon’s orbit to be irregular. For a supermoon, the moon needs to be at its closest point in its 27-day orbit and fully illuminated by the Sun and this happens every 29.5 days. This alignment is rare and occurs only a few times a year, because the Moon’s orbit changes orientation as Earth orbits the Sun, averting monthly supermoons.

During supermoons, the moon appears around 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent larger than its usual size. However, experts say it is difficult to spot the difference with the naked eyes.

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