A supermoon event will occur on Wednesday, July 13 with a full moon coinciding with the object being at it closest point to Earth in its orbit. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

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Clear skies over Nanaimo offering perfect conditions for rare ‘supermoon’

Jul 13, 2022 | 3:04 PM

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.”

The moon will appear between five and ten per cent bigger and brighter in the night sky.

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Arkos added the opposite of Wednesday’s event can also occur, with a full moon occurring alongside the moon reaching its furthest point in orbit dubbed a ‘micromoon’.

The confluence of events also means some more extreme variation in tides than is typical.

“We tend to get slightly higher and bigger variances in tides around the full and new moon. With a supermoon, the moon is a little closer and it’s gravitational pull is a little stronger on us so we can expect tides that are a little bit higher.”

Waterways in the Nanaimo region saw a low tide of -0.1 metres just before 12 p.m. on Wednesday, with high tide set to be 4.7 metres at 7:53 p.m.

Similar fluctuations are due through the weekend.

Arkos also said research has been done to see whether a supermoon has any link to increased seismic activity, however no concrete scientific evidence has suggested a connection.

Wednesday’s big and bright moon isn’t the only astronomical event on July’s calendar.

The Delta Aquarids meteor shower will runs from July 12 to August 23, however its peak is July 28 and 29.

Up to 20 meteors per hour are typical at the peak of the event, which will be helped this year by a new moon at the same time, further darkening the overnight hours.

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley