What time can I see the supermoon in the UK tonight?
SUPERMOONS happen when the Moon is full, and its orbit is closest to earth, making it appear larger than normal.
But what time will you be able to see it in the UK tonight (July 13, 2022), and when will it happen again? Here's all you need to know.
What time is the supermoon visible in the UK tonight?
When you look up into the sky tonight, you may find yourself doing a double-take.
Due to an effect called the Moon Illusion, the Moon will seem 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent larger than when it's at its furthest point from Earth (also known as its apogee).
The Moon will appear huge compared to the rest of the surrounding landscape, but this is an illusion, caused by our brain's inability to understand that the sky we live under is a dome.
The supermoon will hit peak illumination at about 7.38pm BST on July 13, 2022, but the best time to see it will be following the moonrise at 9.47pm.
The Met Office's latest weather forecast suggests Brits will have a clear sight of the phenomenon, with showers "or occasional longer spells of rain in the north, dry with sunny spells elsewhere".
How to see a supermoon
This strikingly enlarged Moon - or so it appears - will rise up from the east.
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If you're planning to observe it, it's therefore important you have a viewpoint that is east facing, and doesn't have any buildings or structures blocking your view.
You won't need any specialist equipment as it will be clearly visible, though it may be worth getting a pair of binoculars if you want a clearer view of the lunar terrain.
When is the next supermoon?
You will have to wait a while until experiencing yet another supermoon - until August 1, 2023 to be exact
The supermoon that will be experienced tonight is called a Buck Moon or a Thunder Moon.
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The July supermoon follows on from the Strawberry supermoon, which took place on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
There is a full moon every 29.5 days - meaning there is one every month and sometimes two in a month.
These are the full moons to look out for, and their (amazingly) specific timings:
- August 12, 2022 (2.36am) - Sturgeon Moon
- September 10, 2022 (10.59am) - Corn/Harvest Moon
- October 9 (9.55pm) - Hunter's Moon
- November 8 (11.02am) - Beaver Moon
- December 8 (4.08am) - Cold Moon