'Supermoon' July 2014: Full Moon Rises Tonight, Watch Live Online Saturday

By Don Pittman
Supermoon
Supermoon Reuters

Tonight it's going to look like the moon is coming in for a landing.  It's going to be a supermoon, as the secondary planet will be almost as close to the Earth as it gets, and it will appear huge and bright in the sky.  

According to NASA, tonight's will be the second supermoon so far this year, but the largest is due in August.  

A supermoon is a full moon viewed in its closest approach to the Earth.  The technical name is the perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system. The association of the Moon with both oceanic and crustal tides has led to claims that the supermoon phenomenon may be associated with increased risk of events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, but the evidence of such a link is widely held to be inconclusive. Some have also linked recent moon phenomenon with Biblical prophecy.

The difference between a micromoon (you guessed it- when the Earth's satellite looks the smallest because it's farther away from the earth) and a supermoon is about 30,000 miles. The full moon tonight will be less than 224,851 miles away from Earth.  To put that in perspective, at micromoon, or apogee,  the moon is roughly 252,000 miles away from Earth.

Supermoon
Supermoon NASA

"Generally speaking, 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."

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the July full moon is referred to as the "Buck" or "Thunder" moon.  The buck moon came from deer's antlers pushing out of their forehead this time of year.  The moon is also referred to as the thunder moon because July is the most common month for thunderstorms.

Tonight's moon should look about 30 percent brighter than normal, and about 15 percent bigger.  

The next dates for supermoon spotting will be Aug. 10 and Sept. 9, according to NASA. 

Supermoon Contrast
Supermoon Contrast NASA
  • [Exclusive Interview] A revelation within the brink of life and death — Meg Leung’s mission in Christian art

    Meg Leung (梁麗橋), an artist with a lifelong love for watercolor painting, sees her art as more than a means of expressing her inner world; it is a bridge connecting her to God. Her artistic journey has revealed God’s perfect plan and inspired her to communicate the power of faith through her wor

  • Transgenderism a fundamental human right? Hong Kong public disagrees, survey finds

    A 2024 survey from the Society for Truth and Light (明光社)'s Center for Life and Ethics Research reveals that respondents from various backgrounds prioritize personal safety and fairness when it comes to transgender issues. When laws involve moral judgments, most respondents believe courts should not make the decisions. The study also indicates that religious believers share similar views with non-religious respondents, reflecting that many churches may rarely address gender topics in depth.

  • Discipleship and Evangelism: Walking the Path of the Great Commission

    Like an ever-flowing spring, the gospel refreshes dry, parched lands and needs our unwavering passion and steadfast faith to transform lives and bring renewal. The "flame in our hearts" calls Christians to keep their faith and love for the Lord ablaze, representing the work and power of the Holy Spirit, driving us to proclaim God's glory boldly.

  • North America Chinese Evangelical Seminary year-end report highlights significant ministry progress

    As the year draws to a close, Rev. James Liu, President of the Chinese Evangelical Seminary North America (CESNA), reflected on the seminary’s remarkable growth and ministry development over the past year. Dedicated to providing theological education to Chinese Christians, CESNA continues to uphold its mission to remain faithful to the gospel and nurture believers. This year’s achievements span academic, ministerial, and outreach endeavors, fostering spiritual growth and advancing missionary wo