If you’re heading out this evening (Saturday), glance up at the sky to behold the first of three supermoons (it’s the big white ball in the sky) set to light up the ether over the next few months. Better known to scientists as a "perigee moon", the phenomenon occurs when the orbit of earth’s ancient satellite reaches the closest point on its elliptical orbit.
This proximity makes a supermoon look far more impressive than a typical full moon, much bigger and brighter… like the Death Star orbiting Tatooine. "Generally speaking, full moons occur near perigee every 13 months and 18 days, so it’s not all that unusual," Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory told NASA Science News, adding: "In fact, just last year there were three perigee Moons in a row, but only one was widely reported."
Saturday's supermoon will be around 30,000 miles closer to the earth than at the furthest point on its orbit (the "apogee moon") – around 222,611 miles from the home planet. In August, it’ll be even closer at around 221,748 miles from earth, a phenomenon that already has moon buffs hugely enthused.
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Supermoon Photos
Supermoon 2013(02 of37)
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The Supermoon Over Walt Disney World Resort(03 of37)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - JUNE 23: In this handout photo provided by Disney Parks, the 'supermoon' is seen with the Epcot center geodesic sphere in the foreground on June 23, 2013 at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This 'supermoon' is the closest and largest full moon for all of 2013. (Photo by David Roark/Disney Parks via Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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The moon is seen in its waxing gibbous stage as it rises behind the helicopter from the original Batman television show, which people can ride at the New Jersey State Fair, Saturday, June 22, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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The moon in its waxing gibbous stage shines behind a statue entitled "Enlightenment Giving Power" by John Gelert, which sits at the top of the dome of the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack, N.J., Friday, June 21, 2013. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expeced to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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The moon is seen in its waxing gibbous stage as it rises behind people sitting on a basket on a ferris wheel at the New Jersey State Fair, Saturday, June 22, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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The moon rises behind power lines on Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year, called a supermoon, happens as the moon passes closer to earth than usual. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (credit:AP)
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Super Moon over Stanley Park Vancouver BC. (credit:Dianne Hartwick )
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A full moon rises behind the Jefferson Memorial in Washington Saturday, June 22, 2013. The larger than normal moon called the "Supermoon" happens only once this year as the moon on its elliptical orbit is at its closest point to earth. (AP Photo/J. David Ake) (credit:AP)
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A full moon rises beside an office building in downtown Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, June 22, 2013. The larger than normal moon called the "Supermoon" happens only once this year as the moon on its elliptical orbit is at its closest point to earth.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
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A full moon rises beside the Bank of America corporate headquarters in downtown Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, June 22, 2013. The larger than normal moon called the "Supermoon" happens only once this year as the moon on its elliptical orbit is at its closest point to earth.(AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
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Henry at Long Beach, CA. (credit:Henrito)
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A "supermoon" rises behind the Home Place clock tower in Prattville, Ala., Saturday, June 22, 2013. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year graces the sky early Sunday as our celestial neighbor swings closer to Earth than usual. While the moon will appear 14 percent larger than normal, sky watchers won't be able to notice the difference with the naked eye. Still, astronomers say it's worth looking up and appreciating the cosmos. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) (credit:AP)
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A statue of the Angel Moroni on top a Latter-day Saints temple is silhouetted against the rising moon Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:AP)
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A full moon rises beyond a Latter-day Saints temple Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (credit:AP)
Supermoon setting in Centennial Mountains WSA(16 of37)
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A hazy "supermoon" is seen behind lighted smoke stacks at the Alamo Quarry Markey, formerly a cement factory, Saturday, June 22, 2013, in San Antonio. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year graces the sky early Sunday as our celestial neighbor swings closer to Earth than usual. While the moon will appear larger than normal, sky watchers won't be able to notice the difference with the naked eye.(AP Photo/Eric Gay) (credit:AP)
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The moon rises behind the Tennessee state capitol on Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. The biggest and brightest full moon of the year, called a supermoon, happens as the moon passes closer to earth than usual. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (credit:AP)
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The moon in its waxing gibbous stage sh behind tree limbs and a statue a marble statue by John Gelert representing history and law on the top of the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack, N.J., Friday, June 21, 2013. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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The moon is seen in its waxing gibbous stage as it rises over Lower Manhattan, including One World Trade Center, center, seen from The Heights neighborhood of Jersey City, N.J., Saturday, June 22, 2013. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be seen 13.5 percent larger than usual during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (credit:AP)
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A full moon rises through a hazy sky past a string of green lights, Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Baltimore. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
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A full moon rises through a hazy sky over street lamps, Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Baltimore. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
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The larger-than-normal full moon referred to as Supermoon is seen setting beyond a refinery in Norco, La., Sunday, June 23, 2013. The larger than normal moon called the "Supermoon" happens only once this year as the moon on its elliptical orbit is at its closest point to earth and is 13.5 percent larger than usual. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (credit:AP)
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A full moon sets by the exterior of the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Sunday morning, June 23, 2013. The moon, which will reach its full stage Sunday, is expected to be significantly closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (credit:AP)
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The larger-than-normal full moon referred to as Supermoon is seen setting beyond a tree near fishing camps in Akers, La., Sunday, June 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (credit:AP)
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A early morning sun rises in Hinds County, Miss., near Jackson, Miss., Sunday, June 23, 2013. However, most public interest is still about the moon, which will reach its full stage Sunday, and is expected to be significantly closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (credit:AP)
Supermoon 2013, Melbourne, Australia(28 of37)
This image was created on a double exposure photographic technique, where I first introduced the city background with a 19mm lens and seconds later the moon with a 400 mm lens as seen from the Docklands precinct in Melbourne city. (credit:Ockert le Roux)
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The larger-than-normal full moon referred to as Supermoon is seen setting beyond fishing camps in Akers, La., Sunday, June 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (credit:AP)
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The larger-than-normal full moon referred to as Supermoon is seen setting beyond a refinery in Norco, La., Sunday, June 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (credit:AP)
Maui Supermoon(32 of37)
A time lapse photo of the supermoon rising over Haleakala Crater on Maui, Hawaii. craig@ellenwoodphotography.com
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A closer, brighter full moon dubbed a "supermoon" is shown around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, June 23, 2013 in this picture made through an amateur astronomer's 5-inch refractor telescope, near Stedman, N.C. (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer, Johnny Horne) (credit:AP)
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A full super moon sets behind the top of one of the minarets at the University of Tampa Sunday, June 23, 2013, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (credit:AP)
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A Supermoon rises through a clear sky past a string of yellow lights, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 23, 2013. The moon, which will reach its full stage on Sunday, is expected to be 13.5 percent closer to earth during a phenomenon known as supermoon. The "Supermoon" happens only once this year as the moon on its elliptical orbit is at its closest point to earth. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) (credit:AP)
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