Video: Dr Daniel Brown explains today’s supermoon.
With a cloudy forecast predicted for Nottingham stargazers will be hoping to see more clearly later when the moon make its closest approach since 1948.
The “supermoon” will appear seven per cent larger and about 15 per cent brighter than normal and won’t be this close again until 25 November 2034.
The moon will remain visible into the night, meaning if cloud cover clears it will light up the surface of the earth.
The Met Office is advising people to keep a check on their local forecasts.
Dr Daniel Brown teaches astronomy at Nottingham Trent University and is responsible for their observatory, he said: “The supermoon is two things, for one its a full moon and for the other it’s a special full moon because it’s when the moon is closest to earth.
“The moon doesn’t move on a circle around earth but an ellipsis, sometimes it’s closer, sometimes it’s further away.”
The moon normally hangs 384,400km away from earth but today will only be 360,000km away.
He added: “We are very lucky that all three supermoons occurring in October, November and December are ideally in winter where the moon is very very high.
“The supermoon being a full moon is best seen at midnight and then, because it’s winter it’s very high up, so anywhere where you’ve got a decent view of the sky is where you’ll be able to see it.”
