Last Supermoon Of 2015 Rises High Monday, But Don't Expect Any Astronomical Hijinks
The final supermoon of 2015 rises Monday. While it won't be bringing a total lunar eclipse with it, the supermoon is a Hunter's Moon. The full moon will appear slightly larger, but won't be a source of worry for skygazers.
September's supermoon had the added bonus of a total lunar eclipse. It became a "super blood moon" loaded with potential conspiracy theories. Despite the "end of days" talk, the supermoon total lunar eclipse was mostly a good show for those who looked up out of curiosity.
October's supermoon will only be a Hunter's Moon as it is the next full moon after the Harvest Moon -- September's full moon took place closest to the autumnal equinox, according to EarthSky. October's full moon gets its name because Native Americans would take the opportunity to hunt ahead of winter, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
A supermoon is an optical illusion where the full moon appears slightly larger and brighter. The moon's elliptical orbit means there is a farthest point away from Earth (the apogee) and a closest point to the planet (perigee). A full moon at or near perigee causes it to appear more magnificent in the night sky. The supermoon could appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter, EarthSky reported.
If the supermoon is not exciting enough, a trio of planets should provide an astronomical thrill. Jupiter, Venus and Mars will appear in a tightly packed group Wednesday. The planetary trio are already pretty close, with many observers snapping photos of bright Jupiter and Venus. The trio will appear in the sky to the east during the predawn hours, according to NASA. The next planetary trio takes place in 2021.
At the end of the week, all eyes will be on the "Great Pumpkin" asteroid. Asteroid 2015 TB145, discovered a few weeks ago, has astronomers buzzing as it makes close approach to Earth on Halloween. The asteroid, measuring 2,034 feet in diameter, will pass by Earth at a safe distance of around 310,000 miles.
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