Eclipses & Supermoons

Upcoming Supermoons

A Supermoon occurs when a Full Moon coincides with the Moon's closest approach to Earth (perigee). The Moon appears up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a typical full moon. These dates are calculated by finding Full Moons that occur when the Moon is within 360,000 km of Earth.

Upcoming Lunar Eclipses

Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting Earth's shadow on the Moon. A total lunar eclipse (Blood Moon) turns the Moon a deep red. A partial eclipse darkens part of the Moon. A penumbral eclipse creates a subtle dimming that's hard to notice with the naked eye.

Upcoming Solar Eclipses

Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. A total solar eclipse is one of nature's most spectacular events, briefly turning day into night along a narrow path. An annular eclipse creates a "ring of fire" when the Moon is too far from Earth to completely cover the Sun.

Note: Solar eclipses are only visible from specific locations on Earth. The dates below indicate when the eclipse occurs globally.

Upcoming Micromoons

A Micromoon is the opposite of a Supermoon — a Full Moon occurring near apogee (the Moon's farthest point from Earth). Micromoons appear about 14% smaller and noticeably dimmer than Supermoons, though the difference is subtle without a side-by-side comparison.

Understanding Eclipses

Why Don't Eclipses Happen Every Month?

The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5.1° relative to Earth's orbit around the Sun. This means the Moon usually passes above or below Earth's shadow (and the Sun's disk) during Full Moon and New Moon. Eclipses only occur when the Moon crosses the ecliptic plane (the "nodes" of its orbit) at the same time it's in the correct phase.

The Saros Cycle

Eclipses follow a pattern called the Saros cycle — every 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours, nearly identical eclipses repeat. This cycle was known to ancient Babylonian astronomers and is still used today to predict eclipse families. Each Saros series produces about 70-85 eclipses over roughly 1,300 years before ending.

Blood Moon: Why Total Lunar Eclipses Are Red

During a total lunar eclipse, Earth's atmosphere bends sunlight around the planet and into the shadow. The atmosphere filters out blue light (the same reason sunsets are red), projecting only red and orange wavelengths onto the Moon. The exact color depends on atmospheric conditions — volcanic eruptions and heavy pollution can make Blood Moons appear darker.

Supermoon Science

How Much Bigger Is a Supermoon?

At perigee, the Moon is about 225,623 miles (363,104 km) from Earth. At apogee, it's about 252,088 miles (405,696 km). This ~14% difference in distance translates to:

• Apparent size: ~14% larger diameter (7% larger area)
• Brightness: ~30% brighter than a Micromoon
• Tidal effect: Perigean spring tides can be 5 cm (2 inches) higher than average spring tides

Can You Actually See the Difference?

Honestly? It's subtle. The human eye isn't great at judging absolute size in the sky. The 14% size difference is real but hard to notice without a reference photo. However, the brightness difference is more noticeable, especially in dark-sky areas. The best way to appreciate a Supermoon is to watch it rise near the horizon, where the "Moon illusion" makes it appear especially large.