Supermoon this Weekend!


By Ricky Matthews
VIPIR Weather Intern

The largest full moon of 2013, known as a “supermoon” will light up our AA5701F1-A006-4AFD-A9CD-9BAB4E4AC5FDskies this Sunday. At 7am EDT, the moon will reach perigee, the point where the orbit of the moon around the earth is closest to earth. At this point, the distance between earth and the moon is 221,824miles.

While the moon reaches perigee every month, this month’s is the closest approach of 2013. Soon after, the moon will turn full. During this time, the moon will look 12.2% larger than apogee, or the point where the moon is furthest from the earth. The moon will rise over Hampton Roads at 7:42pm Saturday night and set at 7:09a.m. on Sunday. It will rise at 8:40pm on Sunday.

Due to the gravitation pull of the “supermoon” being 42% larger on it’s closest approach than normal, astronomical tides may run a little above normal as well. However, no flooding issues are expected .

Clouds may limit our view a little this weekend, but if you see the moon, make sure you snap a picture and send it to us! We may even use it on air.


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