Supermoon

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/supermoon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the astronomical term?Perigee syzygy (specifically for full or new moons)
2. What is the apparent diameter increase?Up to 14% larger than a full moon at apogee
3. How much bigger and brighter does a Supermoon look?A Supermoon is about 14% larger in diameter and up to 30% brighter than a regular full moon. The difference is noticeable to people watching it.
4. Why does a Supermoon look even bigger near the horizon?When the Moon is close to the horizon, the Moon illusion makes it appear even larger than when it is high in the sky. This effect makes a Supermoon look especially striking.

Perigee: The orbital point where the Moon is closest to Earth, approximately 363,300 km away.
Apogee: The orbital point where the Moon is farthest from Earth, approximately 405,000 km away.
Syzygy: A nearly straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies, typically Earth, Moon, and Sun.