Community Corner

Did You See the Supermoon Over Redlands, Loma Linda?

Did you see the Supermoon? If you took a photo, share it with us.

First we celebrate the solstice. Then we get a supermoon?

If you were out on Saturday night, you probably saw the gorgeous sight, what was the closest and fullest full moon of the year.

The supermoon, or perigee, will be fullest in the west at 4:32 a.m. Sunday, June 23, but in the night’s sky it appeared full on June 22, according to EarthSky.org and the thousands who witnessed the impressive moon.

DID YOU CATCH A PHOTO OF THE MOON? CAMERA OR iPHONE, DOESN'T MATTER. SHARE YOUR PHOTOS WITH US.

The perigee full moon gets its name because the term perigee describes the moon’s closest point to the earth during any month. The term supermoon has been used more often since 2011. (According to EarthSky an astrologer, not an astronomer, coined the term.)  

There was a supermoon during May 2013, but EarthSky says this month’s full moon will be even more super than normal, since it will be the closest the moon gets to Earth for the entire year.

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The moon will be just 221,824 miles away from us, according to Astronomy magazine's website.

This month’s perigee moon was special because the crest of the moon’s full phase and perigee fall within an hour of each other, EarthSky says. With the change in distance the moon will appear 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter to our eyes than at its minimum size and brightness.

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And, though the lunar pull will be at its maximum, there should be no cause for alarm, the changes will be imperceptible, EarthSky reports. (Though you are free to howl at the moon if it makes you happy.)

Our next close encounter with a supermoon will be  Aug. 10, 2014, according to EarthSky.org.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Redlands-Loma Linda