supermoon | EarthSky

A full moon appearing coppery red in color at mid-eclipse.

Total eclipse of 2021’s closest supermoon on May 26

The May 26 total eclipse of 2021's closest supermoon can be seen from western North America and elsewhere. It has a very short totality. Don't miss it!

Photos of the supermoon, April 2021

The first of 2 spring supermoons in 2021 took place on April 26 or 27 (depending on your location on Earth). We received many wonderful submissions from you, our readers. Here's a gallery of some favorites. Thanks to all who submitted!

Expect flooding from this week’s supermoon, but know a lunar cycle masks effects of sea level rise

The April 2021 supermoon and the lunar nodal cycle, explained.

Two grey full moons on top of each other, one a full supermoon (full moon at perigee) overlaid with a micro-moon (full moon at apogee).

Year’s 1st supermoon on April 26-27

The April 2021 full moon presents the first of a "season" of 3-straight full moon supermoons. April's supermoon is the 2nd closest full moon supermoon of the year.

What is a supermoon?

A "season" of 3 full moon supermoons will be coming on April 27, May 26 and June 24, 2021, with the May 26 full moon counting as the year's biggest supermoon. Supermoon-o-mania, here.

A smaller full moon superimposed on a larger crescent moon.

Is March’s full moon a supermoon?

The full moon on March 28, 2021, ranks as the 4th-closest (and therefore 4th-largest and 4th-brightest) of the 12 full moons of 2021. Is it a supermoon? Here's why experts disagree.

Last full supermoon of 2020

The May 2020 full moon presents the 3rd in a series of 3 full supermoons. It's the 3rd-closest, 3rd-largest and 3rd-brightest full moon of this year.

Year’s biggest and brightest supermoon on April 7-8

Watch for the biggest supermoon of the year to shine all night long. It lights up the eastern sky at dusk/nightfall April 7, climbs highest up for the night around midnight and sets in the west around sunrise April 8.

March full moon is 2nd-closest of 2020’s 3 full supermoons

The whole globe enjoys a full-looking moon on March 8 and 9, 2020. The exact time of full moon falls in daylight on March 9 for clocks in the Americas. It's the 1st supermoon of 2020 and 2nd-closest full moon this year.

Is this weekend’s full moon a supermoon?

The full moon on February 9, 2020, ranks as the 4th-closest (and therefore the 4th-largest) full moon of 2020, but is it a supermoon?

Year’s closest new supermoon August 30

Today - August 30, 2019 - presents the closest new moon of the year, exactly a fortnight (about 2 weeks) before the year's farthest and smallest full moon on September 14, 2019.

Black Moon supermoon on July 31

Don't listen to people who tell you that supermoons are hype. Supermoons aren't hype; they're folklore, like Blue Moons or Black Moons or the beloved Harvest Moons.

Full supermoon at March 2019 equinox

The full moon crests less than 4 hours after the arrival of the March 20, 2019 equinox. It’s the closest coincidence of a full moon with a March equinox between the years 2000 and 2030.

Full moon at perigee side by side with crescent moon at apogee

See it! Photos of 2019’s biggest supermoon

A selection of photos of the February 18 and 19 full moon - biggest and brightest supermoon of 2019 - from the EarthSky Community.

Year’s biggest supermoon on February 19, 2019

The full moon on February 19, 2019, presents the biggest supermoon of the year.

Will December’s full moon be a supermoon?

The last of 2018's 13 full moons falls on December 22. It's the 3rd-closest full moon in 2018, but is it a supermoon?

Diagram with lunar orbits around Earth and Earth's orbit around the sun with dotted lines of sight.

How the moon’s orbit makes supermoons

An explanation of why extra-close perigees and extra-far apogees happen at new and full moons.

Friday the 13th supermoon solar eclipse

The 2018 Friday the 13th solar eclipse will be seen mainly over the Southern Ocean, between Australia and Antarctica. The southeastern Australia coast will see a very skimpy partial eclipse on Friday afternoon. Eclipse times for that region here.

2018’s closest new supermoon on July 13

The closest new moon of 2018 - a supermoon - comes on July 13. You won't see it, but Earth's oceans will feel it. Then, 2 weeks later, we have the year's farthest full moon.

June new moon is a supermoon

The June 13 new moon is the 1st in a series of 3 new moon supermoons. The other 2 will fall on July 13 and August 11, 2018.

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Total eclipse of 2021’s closest supermoon on May 26

Photos of the supermoon, April 2021

Expect flooding from this week’s supermoon, but know a lunar cycle masks effects of sea level rise

Year’s 1st supermoon on April 26-27

What is a supermoon?

Is March’s full moon a supermoon?

Last full supermoon of 2020

Year’s biggest and brightest supermoon on April 7-8

March full moon is 2nd-closest of 2020’s 3 full supermoons

Is this weekend’s full moon a supermoon?

Year’s closest new supermoon August 30

Black Moon supermoon on July 31

Full supermoon at March 2019 equinox

See it! Photos of 2019’s biggest supermoon

Year’s biggest supermoon on February 19, 2019

Will December’s full moon be a supermoon?

How the moon’s orbit makes supermoons

Friday the 13th supermoon solar eclipse

2018’s closest new supermoon on July 13

June new moon is a supermoon