Monday, 14 July 2014

Spotting summer's first supermoon






Although the supermoon is not as rare as some other celestial events, it still inspires people to turn their gazes skyward. During the early morning hours of July 12, <a href='http://ift.tt/W3Jwcx'>Marie Sager </a>ventured outside her Los Angeles backyard to spot the supermoon before it faded away.Although the supermoon is not as rare as some other celestial events, it still inspires people to turn their gazes skyward. During the early morning hours of July 12, Marie Sager ventured outside her Los Angeles backyard to spot the supermoon before it faded away.

<a href='http://ift.tt/1wlMvrS'>Rachel Cauvin</a> photographed the supermoon hanging over the Bronx, New York, sky. The morning haze seemed to give the moon a red hue.Rachel Cauvin photographed the supermoon hanging over the Bronx, New York, sky. The morning haze seemed to give the moon a red hue.

As the supermoon rose over the Long Island coast, <a href='http://ift.tt/W3Jykx'>Elias Aliprandis </a>said he was inspired to take a photo because of its amazing beauty and bright orange hue. As the supermoon rose over the Long Island coast, Elias Aliprandis said he was inspired to take a photo because of its amazing beauty and bright orange hue.

"As a photographer and astronomer, a full moon is typically nothing to get excited about for me unless it's going to be somehow unique, such as in color," <a href='http://ift.tt/1wlMvI9'>John Thiel</a> of Astoria in Queens, New York, said. When he saw the amber coloring of the moon, he had to take a photo."As a photographer and astronomer, a full moon is typically nothing to get excited about for me unless it's going to be somehow unique, such as in color," John Thiel of Astoria in Queens, New York, said. When he saw the amber coloring of the moon, he had to take a photo.

It took <a href='http://ift.tt/W3JwsY'>Tim Durkan </a>several lonely hours to get the perfect shot of the supermoon over the weekend in Seattle.It took Tim Durkan several lonely hours to get the perfect shot of the supermoon over the weekend in Seattle.

<a href='http://ift.tt/W3JwsY'>Durkan </a>waited outside all night to photograph the supermoon, trying to capture an evening and day shot of the bright moon.Durkan waited outside all night to photograph the supermoon, trying to capture an evening and day shot of the bright moon.

"Every supermoon and celestial event is an opportunity to practice and figure out what settings work best for different shots," <a href='http://ift.tt/W3Jwt2'>Talia Landman</a> of Orlando, Florida, said."Every supermoon and celestial event is an opportunity to practice and figure out what settings work best for different shots," Talia Landman of Orlando, Florida, said.

"Clouds obstructed the moon until very late. But when I came outside at about 3:00 a.m. it was very bright!" <a href='http://ift.tt/1wlMvIj'>Wanda Gemson </a>wrote in her iReport. She watched the supermoon from Yucca Valley, California."Clouds obstructed the moon until very late. But when I came outside at about 3:00 a.m. it was very bright!" Wanda Gemson wrote in her iReport. She watched the supermoon from Yucca Valley, California.

<a href='http://ift.tt/W3JyB2'>Homer Liwag</a> and his dog Sake sat in the desert in Las Vegas, Nevada, waiting for the supermoon. "This supermoon was striking as usual," he said.Homer Liwag and his dog Sake sat in the desert in Las Vegas, Nevada, waiting for the supermoon. "This supermoon was striking as usual," he said.

<a href='http://ift.tt/1wlMxjh'>Kelli Thompson</a> photographed the supermoon from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. "The airplane bisecting the supermoon was quite unusual and unexpected," she said.Kelli Thompson photographed the supermoon from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. "The airplane bisecting the supermoon was quite unusual and unexpected," she said.

"It was so beautiful. It was larger than other moons. We had a thunderstorm trying to develop right when it was rising," <a href='http://ift.tt/W3JwJx'>Patti Wolff</a> from Phoenix, Oregon, said."It was so beautiful. It was larger than other moons. We had a thunderstorm trying to develop right when it was rising," Patti Wolff from Phoenix, Oregon, said.

<a href='http://ift.tt/W3JyBc'>Janice Wei </a>photographed the supermoon from the San Francisco Bay Area on July 12. "I love to capture the moon. It's very beautiful and powerful when it's full," she said.Janice Wei photographed the supermoon from the San Francisco Bay Area on July 12. "I love to capture the moon. It's very beautiful and powerful when it's full," she said.

The supermoon made an exciting appearance in other parts of the world, too. <a href='http://ift.tt/W3JyBg'>Marlo Cueto</a> ventured to a park in Makati City, Philippines, so that he could find some sky that wasn't saturated by light pollution. Using a DSLR camera, he photographed the moon through the thick clouds floating above. The supermoon made an exciting appearance in other parts of the world, too. Marlo Cueto ventured to a park in Makati City, Philippines, so that he could find some sky that wasn't saturated by light pollution. Using a DSLR camera, he photographed the moon through the thick clouds floating above.

<a href='http://ift.tt/1wlMxjx'>Stojan Stojanovski</a> photographed the supermoon from Ohrid, Macedonia. He photographs the supermoon every year and tries to find interesting ways of showcasing its beauty. This year, he took of a photo of the moon behind a family of storks.Stojan Stojanovski photographed the supermoon from Ohrid, Macedonia. He photographs the supermoon every year and tries to find interesting ways of showcasing its beauty. This year, he took of a photo of the moon behind a family of storks.








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  • It's the summer of the supermoons with three of the celestial events

  • Missed the one Friday night and Saturday morning? Don't worry -- there are two more to come

  • The lunar event inspired iReporters to photograph the supermoon




Did you watch the supermoon? Share your photos with CNN iReport.


(CNN) -- The first of this season's summer of supermoons filled the night sky over the weekend.


July's supermoon happened Friday evening and peaked early Saturday morning, on July 12. But night owls, stargazers and early morning risers will be able to feast their eyes on more lunar showings soon. The next two are scheduled for August 10 and September 9, according to NASA.


The supermoon occurs when the moon becomes full on the same days as its perigee, which is the point in the moon's orbit when it is closest to Earth.









A "supermoon" is seen over a bridge in the center of Skopje, Macedononia, on Saturday, June 12. The phenomenon occurs when the moon becomes full on the same day as its perigee -- the point in the moon's orbit when it's closet to Earth.A "supermoon" is seen over a bridge in the center of Skopje, Macedononia, on Saturday, June 12. The phenomenon occurs when the moon becomes full on the same day as its perigee -- the point in the moon's orbit when it's closet to Earth.



The moon rises behind figurines on a pavilillon in Beijing, China. Due to it's closer proximity to the Earth the moon appears larger and brighter than normal. The moon rises behind figurines on a pavilillon in Beijing, China. Due to it's closer proximity to the Earth the moon appears larger and brighter than normal.



The moon is seen as it rises above Dojran Lake in southeastern Macedonia. NASA says that there will be three "supermoons" this year, occuring on July 12, August 10 and September 9.The moon is seen as it rises above Dojran Lake in southeastern Macedonia. NASA says that there will be three "supermoons" this year, occuring on July 12, August 10 and September 9.



The moon is cradled in a crescent of the dome of the grand Faisal mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan.The moon is cradled in a crescent of the dome of the grand Faisal mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan.



The moon over Jerusalem's Old City and the Dome of the Rock.The moon over Jerusalem's Old City and the Dome of the Rock.



The moon is seen behind a traditional Ramadan lantern in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.The moon is seen behind a traditional Ramadan lantern in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.



The moon casts a glow on clouds over a forest near Sarajevo.The moon casts a glow on clouds over a forest near Sarajevo.




Supermoon lights up the night sky

Supermoon lights up the night sky

Supermoon lights up the night sky

Supermoon lights up the night sky

Supermoon lights up the night sky

Supermoon lights up the night sky

Supermoon lights up the night sky



Photos: Supermoon lights up the night skyPhotos: Supermoon lights up the night sky






What is a supermoon?

"Full moons occur near perigee every 13 months and 18 days, so it's not all that unusual," Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory said in a statement from NASA. "In fact, just last year, there were three perigee moons in a row, but only one was widely reported."





iReporters share 'super' moon views

He is referring to the supermoon that happened in June last year. It was 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the other full moons of 2013. The lunar event even grabbed international headlines.





The science behind the supermoon

People were eager to take photos of the celestial event and shared their photos on CNN iReport.


Supermoon linked to supercreativity? We think so


New York City resident Rachel Cauvin says seeing the supermoon was an incredible spectacle. She woke up early Saturday morning to watch it from the balcony of her Bronx apartment.


An astronomy fan, she photographed the supermoon hanging over the city that morning. Because of the haze, the moon was not as bright as she hoped it would be, but she says it was still a beautiful sight. She has marked her calendar for the next two showings in August and September.


Sometimes the supermoon is difficult to distinguish from a full moon because clouds can mask the difference in brightness and size, according to NASA.


But Southern California resident Marie Sager had to take a chance to catch the much-anticipated supermoon on July 12 and even set her alarm back so she wouldn't miss it. She trekked out into her Los Angeles backyard to see the glowing supermoon still lingering in the Saturday morning sky.


Your stunning photos of starry skies


She had photographed it late Friday evening, but she says it was much larger and brighter Saturday morning, so missing out on a few extra hours of sleep was worth it.


She is also looking forward to the other supermoons this summer. "I am a stargazer and a moon watcher, and hopefully, weather permitting, I'll he there waiting and watching," she said.


Even though Talia Landman has seen the supermoon countless times, the educator at the Kennedy Space Center was standing outside her Orlando, Florida, home hoping to get a glimpse of the glowing moon.


What draws her out to see these astronomical events is their uniqueness, she explained. "Every supermoon is a different experience. A lot of factors play into it, such as location, weather, time of night," she said.


"This one was just as beautiful as the others. Maybe even a little brighter," she said.


CNN's Dana Ford and Kristian Monroe contributed to this story.



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