Today's supermoon will be the first of four super bright supermoons

When the summer twilight clears this evening, the moon will light up the sky. This is a phenomenon that attracts the attention of many people, and for good reason.

A supermoon is a phenomenon when the moon is at its closest distance from the Earth, which makes it brighter and seem larger than usual. But what makes this moon special and what other names does it have?

Almost a hundred years ago, in the Maine Farmers' Almanac, this particular moon became known as the "Deer Moon." They attributed this nickname to the Algonquian peoples of the northeastern United States. According to NASA, each full moon has many names, many of which have been passed down from generation to generation over the centuries in different cultures and traditions. The July full moon also has different names in different regions and cultures. In some parts of Europe, it is known as the Hay Moon, reflecting the traditional haymaking season. Others call it the Honey Moon. In Hindu, Buddhist and Jain cultures, this day is revered as the Full Moon of the "Guru".

What is a "supermoon"?

An attentive observer of the night sky will notice that the moon not only goes through its phases, but also seems to change in size during the month. This phenomenon occurs due to the elliptical trajectory along which the Moon moves in orbit around the Earth. From time to time, the moon approaches our planet, reaching the nearest point or "perigee". In other cases, it goes further, reaching the farthest point or "apogee". Every full noon that we observe throughout the year is at a slightly different distance from Earth. This is due to its elliptical orbit. As a result, some full moons appear smaller and dimmer, while others appear larger and brighter in the sky. The brightest full moons are called supermoons.

Supermoon: a magnificent sight

Retired NASA scientist Fred Espenak expects the moon to shine about 25 percent brighter than the February full moon at this year's apogee, which is the farthest, smallest and dimest full moon of the year. This makes it almost 13 percent brighter than the usual full moon we observed in April or May. The concept of the "moon illusion" also plays a role in our perception of the size of the moon.

The illusion that the moon appears larger when it is near the horizon, compared to when it is high in the sky, has been the subject of discussion by both scientists and observers. Although we know that the size of the Moon remains constant, the visual distortion created by this illusion can make comparison difficult. However, this does not prevent us from assessing the increased brightness of the Moon during a supermoon.

Supermoon: historical and scientific significance

The supermoon is not only a magnificent sight in the night sky, but also has historical and scientific significance. Its name and associated traditions are passed down from generation to generation. It serves as a reminder of how people in different cultures have observed and studied the moon for many centuries. In addition, supermoons provide scientists with the opportunity to study the Moon in more detail and obtain new data about its structure and origin.