First 'Super Moon' In 28 Years Will Rise Saturday Night

Make sure to catch the Moon in all its glory on Saturday as it gets super close to Earth.

Don't be alarmed if you look into the sky on Saturday evening and see a huge moon rising over the horizon. Don't worry, the world's not coming to an end—it's just the "Super Moon."

What the hell is a "Super Moon"? According to NASA, it's a situation when the moon is a little closer to Earth than usual during its orbit. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center said the effect is "most noticeable when it occurs the same time as a full moon." 

When the Moon is at its farthest distance from Earth during its ellipse-shaped orbit, it's at its "apogee". When it's at its closest, the Moon is at its "perigee". This Saturday, March 19, not only will the Moon be at its perigee, but it will be a full moon. The last time this happened was in March of 1983. 

To get the best view of the "Super Moon", NASA says to catch it when its near the horizon as it rises in the east at sunset. It'll look impossibly large as it passes the earth 221,567 miles away. 

[via USA Today]

 

 

Latest in Pop Culture