When to watch the supermoon in Kazakhstan: astronomers’ tips

Tengrinews.kz – On the nights of October 7 and 8, Kazakhstani residents will be able to witness a beautiful astronomical event — the supermoon.

A Supermoon occurs when a full moon or new moon coincides with perigee — the point in the Moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth. During this period, the Moon appears larger and brighter than usual.

“At this time, the Moon’s visible diameter increases by 10–12%, and its brightness rises by 25–35%,” explained Svetlana Moshkina, a specialist at the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute.

Unlike a solar eclipse, no special equipment is needed to observe the Supermoon. The glowing lunar disk will be visible to the naked eye from anywhere. However, for the best view, it’s recommended to catch the Moon low on the horizon.

“When the Moon is low on the horizon, it appears much larger. But that’s an optical illusion, created when the Moon or Sun is seen rising or setting,” said amateur astronomer and founder of Astro Astana, Artur Haiduk.

What’s next? More supermoons are coming

According to Moshkina, the October Supermoon will mark the beginning of a series of similar celestial events:

• Next Supermoon: November 5;
• Another one: December 5.

Despite some popular beliefs about mystical effects, scientists confirm that the Supermoon has no real impact on Earth.

“From a scientific perspective, it has no influence on wildlife or human health,” said Artur Haiduk.