Supermoon to occur on May 6

BANGKOK, 4 May 2012 (NNT) – The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) revealed that the biggest full moon of the year, or a “supermoon”, will occur on May 6 at 10.34 pm, local time.

Mr. Saran Poshyachinda, NARIT deputy director said a supermoon takes place when the moon hits its full phase while making the closest approach to Earth for the month, a lunar milestone known as perigee. This year the distance between the Earth and the Moon during the full moon is estimated at 356,953 kilometers.

He added that the phenomenon is scientifically termed as a “perigee moon.” Due to the oval shape of the Moon’s orbit, full moon varies in sizes. Full Moons that occur on the perigee side of the Moon’s orbit, unlike the farther side termed “Apogee”, generally appear bigger and brighter by 2-3%.

Mr. Saran pointed out that a perigee full Moon commonly entails extra-high perigean tides, which is a natural occurrence. The supermoon occurs approximately once a year on average and the last such coincidence fell on March 20, 2011, producing a full Moon that was measured at 356,577 kilometers away.