On Monday (October 6th), Chinese people will celebrate the heartwarming traditional festival – the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is particularly special this year because there will be a “super moon” appearing in the night sky, adding a touch of romance and surprise to the festival. It is also the Harvest Moon for Westerners, bringing a symbol of abundance and joy to Western families.
According to data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States, the moon on Monday night will be bigger and brighter than all full moons this year, truly becoming a “super moon.” This is because the moon’s orbit around the Earth is elliptical, and this full moon happens to reach the “perigee,” with the moon being approximately 224,599 miles (361,457 kilometers) away from Earth, closer by over 20,000 kilometers than the usual 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers).
NASA states that the brightness of the super moon is 30% higher than usual and appears about 14% larger. The optimal time for observing the moon varies depending on the location. In the Eastern United States, the best time to observe the full moon on Monday is around 11:47 p.m., and on the West Coast, it’s around 8:47 p.m. However, for moon enthusiasts on the West Coast who want to witness the entire moon rising process, in Southern California, it can be observed starting around 6:13 p.m. in Los Angeles, approximately 6:10 p.m. in Riverside County, and 6:28 p.m. in San Francisco.
For Chinese residents in Las Vegas, observing can begin around 5:59 p.m., and in Phoenix, the best time to watch the moon rise is at 5:49 p.m.
For enthusiasts of the super moon, one of the best places to observe is the Griffith Observatory: overlooking the cityscape of Los Angeles, you can enjoy the spectacular sight of the moon rising above the city, providing a special kind of enjoyment. Additionally, moon-gazing at the Santa Monica Pier will also offer a unique experience.
If you prefer not to venture far from home, you can also go to nearby parks or open spaces along riverbanks to observe the moon rising.
According to the science website “livescience.com,” Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are also good times to watch the super moon. The moon will reach the perigee 1.3 days after the full moon, making Tuesday evening the best time to observe the full moon appearing on the eastern horizon; and on Wednesday night (the 8th), even though it’s not a full moon, it will appear to be the largest moon.
There will be two more occurrences of super moons on November 5th and December 4th. However, for Chinese people, these two super moons cannot compare to the Mid-Autumn full moon because they lack the traditional cultural significance of symbolizing a happy and complete family reunion.