Monday’s Supermoon Full Worm Moon Over South Africa

South Africans around the country have been graced with a fantastic view of tonight’s full moon – Monday 9 March 2020 – which happens to be the year’s first supermoon AND is known as the Worm Moon. UPDATE: See April’s Supermoon ‘Pink Moon’ over South Africa.

The name was coined in North America by Native Americans who called it the Worm Moon  because it marked the first appearance of the year of earthworms… as the ground in the northern hemisphere starts to become warmer.

According to astrophysicists, a full moon is at 100% illumination and is the sky’s brightest object – 2,000 times brighter than the second brightest object, the planet Venus.

Hours after the full Worm Moon, the moon will reach perigree (its closest point during its elliptical orbit to Earth)… which is what makes it a supermoon. And what makes supermoons particularly ‘super’ is that they’re 7% larger and 15% brighter than your run of the mill full moon!

For those in South Africa, the moon will be at its brightest close to midnight. Likewise if you’re in Europe. For South African expats in North and South America – take a look earlier in the evening. And if you’re in Asia or Australia – it’ll be at its brightest in the early hours of Tuesday 10 March.

If you miss tonight’s supermoon – mark April 7/8 in your calendar. It’ll even be a tiny bit brighter than tonight’s moon.

Full Worm Moon and Supermoon over Joburg, 9 March 2020:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1314525865425016&set=a.368594623351483&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157672431091072&set=a.10150148791031072&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10219515468050844&set=a.1147741007220&type=3

Super Worm Moon over Cape Town, 9 March 2020:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9h55isJ3Ux/