Supermoon 2019: Why is the Moon so big today? Is it a Full Moon?

Tom Kerss, an astronomer at Royal Observatory Greenwich, has outlined the key facts of this astronomical event.

Mr Kerss said: “February’s Full Moon – sometimes known as the Snow Moon – will occur very close to lunar perigee, with the closest approach between the Moon and the Earth occurring at 9.06am on Tuesday morning, and the moment of Full Moon at 3.53pm that afternoon.

“The discrepancy of under seven hours results in the nearest Full Moon to the Earth until December 2026.

“The event, occasionally called a Supermoon, will appear up to 16 percent brighter than the average value.

“However this relative brilliance is hard to detect, particularly as both January and March’s Full Moons are also occurring close to lunar perigee.”

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