How to see the Supermoon 2022 - Astrophysics Explained!

How to see the Supermoon in 2022. There are two this year - 14 June and 13 July. During a Supermoon, technically called a perigee-syzygy Moon, the Moon is a bit closer to the Earth, and therefore a bit bigger and brighter.

Why do we get a Supermoon? The orbit of the Moon varies by around 50,000 km and so sometimes it is closer, and sometimes it is further away. However, a Supermoon is not that super. You are unlikely to notice the difference between a Supermoon and a normal Moon.

Catching the Supermoon is best at Sunset, as that is when the Moon rises in the East. Due to some optical effects, the Moon looks a bit bigger as it is rising.

Dr Brad Tucker is an astrophysicist at the Mt Stromlo Observatory in Australia. He loves talking about space and astronomy so leave your comments/questions below!

Subscribe to my YouTube channel to help me make more videos: @DrBradTucker

Image credits:
NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA, Arizona State U., NASA
NASA/Joel Kowsky

[lishfejer]

I get it now. Thanks Dr Brad. ( And love a prop that gets it across so brilliantly)

[marias]

Really enjoyed listening to this video. Thank you Dr Brad. I've been looking at the moon for years with my telescope when it was full ! Only found out tonight to look when it's a crescent. I enjoy the beauty of the night sky most nights.

[donnatriffitt]

Thank you for the explanation. Just out of curiosity, If humans were to land on the Moon while being a super Moon, would that make a difference in the calculations of fuel and speed and secondly, does the super moon affect Earth any different to a normal full Moon?