First of August's two supermoons today
A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon's closest point in its orbit to Earth
Look out for the full moon on Tuesday (1 August) because it is a supermoon.
The moon follows a slightly elliptical path around Earth, resulting in variations in its distance from us - sometimes a bit closer and other times a bit farther away. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon's closest point in its orbit to Earth.
On 1 August, the moon will be approximately 222,158 miles (357,530 km) away from Earth. This marks the first supermoon of August and the second one of this year among the four supermoons lined up in succession, reports The Guardian.
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The previous supermoon appeared on 2-3 July, at a distance of 224,895 miles (361,934 km). The third supermoon, which will be the closest full moon, is expected on 30 August, about 222,043 miles (357,344 km) away.
Since it is the second full moon within the same month, this third supermoon is also referred to as a blue moon, although there is some disagreement among astronomers about the precise definition of a blue moon.
The series of supermoons will conclude with the full moon on 28-29 September, occurring at a distance of 224,658 miles (361,552 km).
Supermoons typically appear about 14% larger and up to 30% brighter than regular full moons. However, for most people, the difference may not be easily noticeable.
