A CLOSER and larger apparent diameter moon this year will be witnessed by thousands of people, as a phenomenon called "supermoon" will grace the night sky on Monday, November 14.
In an advisory from the state weather bureau, the moon will reach perigee, moon’s closest point as it orbits Earth at 7:21 p.m. almost 2 hours 31 minutes before going full moon at 9:52 p.m.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said "supermoon" is actually a modern astrological term coined by Richard Nole and defined it as “a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is within 90 percent of its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit”
The Pagasa added “a 30 percent difference in brightness can easily be masked by clouds or the competing glare of urban lights.”
Make sure to come out and gaze the moon right on time because the last "supermoon" was on January 26, 1948, 68 years ago, and won’t be seen this close to Earth again until November 26, 2034. (Pia Noreen Bilar/Sunnex)