The Halloween may be over but the sky is just preparing for the biggest moon extravaganza this month and this century.
On November 14, the supermoon will exhibit its record-breaking size that will shine in its biggest and brightest after 70 years. "The full moon of November 14 is not only the closest full moon of 2016 but also the closest full moon to date in the 21st century. The full moon won't come this close to Earth again until November 25, 2034," a NASA official said in a statement.
The extra supermoon occurs when the Earth and the moon line up in an orbit that coincides with the moon's closest approach to the planet. Typically, the moon has an elliptical orbit with one side closer to Earth.
The supermoon phenomenon per se is not very rare; this year alone it will happen thrice. Once last Oct. 16, the supermoon this Nov. 14 and the last one will take place on Dec. 14. But the November supermoon is extra special because this will be the biggest appearance of the moon and it won't happen again until 2034.
Stargazers are preparing to witness the majestic size of the moon. Some photographers are anticipating the supermoon to bring to life their masterpieces using the humungous size of the moon as their backdrop. But there shouldn't be any misconception about the supermoon. The only difference of the supermoon to the typical full moon is the size and even the three supermoons won't have much of a difference either, experts say.
"The difference between other close moons would only be, in some instances, 100, 200 or 300 kilometers. To the human eye, that is almost imperceptible from a distance as great as that," Perry Vlahos, vice president of the Astronomical Society of Victoria said in a statement.
Nevertheless, the supermoon will still offer a stunning moonrise known as the low-hanging moon will give out a moon illusion making it look extremely big against the horizon.
In order to see the supermoon on Nov. 14, experts recommend that stargazers try to reach to highest peak of a building if they can to get the perfect view of the moon. The best view will be at dusk facing the east.