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Supermoon 2016: The Scientific Explanation

Photo Credits to: Brittany Weir Photography

Photo Credits to: Brittany Weir Photography

A few nights ago, people from around the globe were fascinated by the extensive brightness and incredibly large appearance of November’s Supermoon.

Earth has only one moon that shines at night. Yet, with the very busy lifestyle, most of the people do not really take a time to look up and appreciate the moonlight during ordinary, busy days.  However, on the night of November 14, almost all individuals took the chance to stare and capture the beauty of the Supermoon. It was a lovely night when the moon just appeared to be at its very best – full and bright.

According to Space.com, November’s Supermoon occurred when the full moon was closest to Earth during the lunar orbit. As explained by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the changing distance between the moon and Earth happens because the moon does not rotate in a perfect circle. This is due to the gravitational forces that pull the moon which include that of the earth, of the sun and of the other planets of the solar system. Hence, instances of seeing the moon nearer and farther occurs every now and then.

What’s amazing is that this year’s Supermoon was the biggest and brightest Supermoon that humanity has seen in 69 years. To see such was surely a memory to behold considering the fact that the next full moon that close to Earth was predicted to happen on November 25, 2034.

People from different parts of the globe saw the craters of the Supermoon with the naked eyes because if its closeness to Earth. Capturing photos of it and sharing them on social media has become a tool for comparison of the different faces of the moon in different places. Surely, the people of this millennia have witnessed a highlight of the history.

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