The first of four supermoons this year rises next week, providing tantalizing views of Earth含羞草研究社檚 .

Stargazers can catch the first act Monday as the full moon inches a little closer than usual, making it appear slightly bigger and brighter in the night sky.

含羞草研究社淚 like to think of the supermoon as a good excuse to start looking at the moon more regularly,含羞草研究社� said Noah Petro, project scientist for NASA含羞草研究社檚 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

August含羞草研究社檚 supermoon kicks off a string of lunar spectacles. September含羞草研究社檚 supermoon will coincide with a partial lunar eclipse. October含羞草研究社檚 will be the year含羞草研究社檚 closest approach, and November含羞草研究社檚 will round out the year.

What makes a moon so super?

More a popular term than a scientific one, occurs when a full lunar phase syncs up with an especially close swing around Earth. This usually happens only three or four times a year and consecutively, given the moon含羞草研究社檚 constantly shifting, oval-shaped orbit.

A supermoon obviously isn含羞草研究社檛 bigger, but it can appear that way, although scientists say the difference can be barely perceptible.

含羞草研究社淯nless you have looked at a lot of full moons or compare them in images, it is hard to notice the difference, but people should try,含羞草研究社� Petro said in an email.

How do supermoons compare?

There含羞草研究社檚 a quartet of supermoons this year.

The first will be 224,917 miles (361,970 kilometers) away. The next will be nearly 3,000 miles (4,484 kilometers) closer the night of Sept. 17 into the following morning. A partial lunar eclipse will also unfold that night, visible in much of the Americas, Africa and Europe as the Earth含羞草研究社檚 shadow falls on the moon, resembling a small bite.

October含羞草研究社檚 supermoon will be the year含羞草研究社檚 closest at 222,055 miles (357,364 kilometers) from Earth, followed by November含羞草研究社檚 supermoon at a distance of 224,853 miles (361,867 kilometers).

What含羞草研究社檚 in it for me?

Scientists point out that only the keenest observers can discern the subtle differences. It含羞草研究社檚 easier to detect the change in brightness 含羞草研究社� a supermoon can be 30% brighter than average.

With the U.S. and other countries ramping up lunar exploration with landers and eventually astronauts, the moon beckons brighter than ever. As project scientist for the first team of moonwalkers coming up under Apollo含羞草研究社檚 follow-on program, Artemis, Petro is thrilled by the renewed lunar interest.

含羞草研究社淚t certainly makes it more fun to stare at,含羞草研究社� Petro said.

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