SEATTLE — Wednesday’s supermoon, also known as the “Full Buck Moon,” will appear opposite the sun in Earth-based longitude at 2:38 p.m. EDT, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
It will be the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year as it will be 222,089.3 miles (357,418 km) from Earth, edging out last month’s “Strawberry Moon,” according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
What makes it a supermoon is that it appears larger than a typical full moon, reaching 90% perigee, the moon’s closest approach to Earth.
While the term supermoon is not an astrological term, it was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 due to how close it is to Earth.
The moon will appear full for about three days, from Tuesday to Friday.
While the supermoon will appear larger than a normal full moon, the best chance to get a good look is to find a spot that has an unobstructed view of the eastern sky.
People living in western Washington can expect mainly clear skies Wednesday night, so the view of the supermoon should not be obstructed.
To find out when the supermoon will rise in the Seattle area, click here for The Old Farmer’s Almanac moonrise and moonset calculator.
While July’s supermoon is expected to be impressive, it is called the Buck Moon because a male deer’s antlers are in full-growth mode during this time of year. Each year, male deer shed and regrow their antlers, producing larger and more impressive antlers as the years go by, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
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