NEW YORK (PIX11) -- All you stargazers get ready to look up!
The first supermoon of the year is happening Monday Aug. 19 at approximately 2:26 p.m., according to a table by Fred Espanak. The eclipse expert and retired NASA astrophysicist forecasts that it will be the first of four supermoons we’ll see for the year.
Espanak defines a supermoon as when either a New Moon or Full Moon phase occurs while it is at its closest approach to Earth. During that time the Moon looks larger and brighter than normal, resulting in the supermoon effect.
This month’s supermoon, also known as the Sturgeon Moon, will sit about 361,970 kilometers from Earth. In comparison, the Moon is usually about 384,400 kilometers from Earth, according to NASA.
Although the August supermoon will be the closest to Earth, October’s will look the biggest.
Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here.
