The new year started in spectacular fashion with the incredible Supermoon lunar eclipse. And it will be followed with February’s Supermoon, the second of only three this year, with the next Supermoon arriving in March. And amateur astronomers are now being urged to keep their eyes peeled to witness this latest celestial spectacle.
The rare eclipse was the result of three astronomical events: a Blood Moon, a total lunar eclipse and a Supermoon near-Perigee.
This combination, consequently made the Full Moon appear brighter, larger and transformed the celestial satellite’s colour to a crimson colour during totality.
Lunar events like these are incredibly rare and only three Super Blood Moons are expected to peak this century.
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When is the next Supermoon?
February’s Supermoon will appear only a month after January’s Blood Moon, in the afternoon of Tuesday, February 19.
The Supermoon will be the second in a series of three Supermoons in 2019.
The Supermoons fall this year on January 21, February 19 and March 21.
Unfortunately for amateur astronomers in the UK, the February Super Full Moon will not be noticeable.
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The Supermoon will rise at 5.11pm GMT and set the following day at 7.50am GMT.
For those in the US, the Super Full Moon will arrive at 11am (ECT) and 7.53am (PCT).
Elsewhere, in India for example, the Super Full Moon will not appear until around 6.30pm (IST).
Although known colloquially as Supermoons, astronomy experts name these astronomical events Moons Perigean.
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What is a Supermoon?
Supermoons describe Full Moons falling near the celestial satellite’s perigee, the Moon’s closest orbital point to Earth.
A Moon is dubbed “Super” whenever it comes within 224,775 miles (361,740 km) of Earth.
When compared to the Full Moon at Apogee, or farthest distance from Earth, the Moon can appear considerably brighter and larger.
The Moon always reaches its perigee during its 29-day-long lunar cycle but this will fall on a Full Moon every time.
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