Full moon watchers will want to circle two dates on their calendars if they haven’t already: June 14 and July 13, dates of the two supermoons in 2022.
The pair of especially large full moons are coming just in time for the summer solstice on June 21, each rising just after dusk on some of the longest days of the year.
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And while the term “supermoon” conjures up fanciful images, it simply means that the moon will be a little closer to the Earth when full, making it a little larger and brighter than normal. The moon will appear the biggest as it rises over the horizon, which is perhaps the best time to look for it.
The June 14 full moon, also known as the “strawberry moon,” will rise at 10:01 p.m. in Portland, according to Time and Date, while the July 13 full moon, or the “buck moon,” will rise at 9:41 p.m. Look for both moons over the southeastern horizon.
The supermoon phenomenon occurs as the moon reaches its closest point to Earth in a given annual cycle. Because the moon follows an elliptical path around the Earth, its closest distance from our planet (known as the perigee) varies throughout the year.
Scientists typically shy away from “supermoon” and instead refer to the phenomenon as “perigee syzygy,” meaning the alignment of the Earth, moon and sun at the moon’s closest point in its orbit. It could occur during either a full moon or a new moon, although full moons naturally receive all the attention.
“Supermoon” was coined not by an astronomer but by astrologer Richard Nolle, who in a 1979 magazine article said he considered the moon to be “super” when it is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit. In 2000, Nolle published a chart listing every supermoon for the next 100 years, according to his calculations, posted online at astropro.com.
Over the years, different organizations have used different calculations to determine what, exactly, counts as a supermoon, using difference perigees to honor moons with the title. That difference occasionally invites disagreement about how many supermoons there are in a given year, though there are always a clear-cut few.
This year’s July full moon will be the closest of the year, at 221,993 miles from the earth. The June full moon will be 222,098 miles away. The new moon on Dec. 23 will also be “super,” with a perigee of 222,619 miles.
Unlike other, more rare astronomical events, supermoons are not necessarily cause for celebration, rather good opportunities to simply appreciate the moon. Find a pretty spot and cross your fingers for clear skies, then sit back and bask in the slightly brighter summer moonlight.
–Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB
