Clear skies over Nanaimo offering perfect conditions for rare ‘supermoon’
NANAIMO — It’s poised to be a little brighter overnight on Wednesday.
The year’s brightest and biggest moon is set to illuminate the sky on Wednesday, July 13 with clear skies over the central Island meaning plenty of viewing opportunities. The supermoon is also dubbed a ‘buck’ or ‘thunder’ moon.
Dr. Greg Arkos, VIU astronomy professor, told NanaimoNewsNOW the event occurs when the sun, Earth and moon all align with the moon at its closest point in its orbit to Earth.
“The moon varies in terms of how far and how close (it is to Earth) anywhere from about 350,000 kilometres away to just over 400,000 kilometres away. If we’re on the closer end of it, we get a supermoon.”