The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles (384,400 km) from Earth. The moon's orbit around Earth – which causes it to go through all its phases once every 29.5 days – is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse. One side of the orbit is 31,070 miles (50,000 km) closer than the other.
So in each orbit, the moon reaches this closest point to us, called perigee. Once or
twice a year, perigee coincides with a full moon, as it will tonight (January 29) making the moon bigger and brighter than any other full moons during the year.
Tonight it will be about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than lesser full Moons of the year.
Enjoy the moon tonight!
So in each orbit, the moon reaches this closest point to us, called perigee. Once or
twice a year, perigee coincides with a full moon, as it will tonight (January 29) making the moon bigger and brighter than any other full moons during the year.
Tonight it will be about 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than lesser full Moons of the year.
Enjoy the moon tonight!
