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A Super Start to 2019 - presented by Science@NASA

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2019 will be an excellent year to look to the sky and enjoy the spectacular view of Earth’s nearest neighbor, the Moon.

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50 years ago, we witnessed one of humankind’s most remarkable achievements when we first stepped foot on the dusty surface of the Moon.

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"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."

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As NASA continues celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo program,

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the year is opening with a number of opportunities to marvel at Earth’s original satellite.

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Three Supermoons and a total lunar eclipse in the span of 3 months.

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So what is it that makes a Supermoon super? Start with size. The Moon orbits around the Earth in a slightly oval shape.

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At its furthest point away from us, known as the Apogee, it’s about 250,000 miles (400,000 km) from Earth.

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When it’s closest to us – its Perigee – the Moon is about 220,000 miles (350,000 km) away.

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When the Moon is full at or near its Perigee it is considered a Supermoon,

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and can appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than at Apogee.

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Those distances, however, are changing, as the Moon is slowly drifting away from Earth. How slowly? Approximately 2 inches (5 cm) annually.

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A billion years from now, the Moon will take about 31.5 days to orbit the Earth instead of today’s 27.3 days.

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In the meantime, this year’s first Supermoon of the year occurred on January 21st and also featured a total lunar eclipse.

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The second occurred on February 19, and sky watchers will have another chance

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to see this beautiful large orb as it rises above the horizon on March 21st.

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While Supermoons and total lunar eclipses are marvels to behold, a question rises 50 years after humankind’s first steps on the Moon.

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Does it hold any more secrets for NASA scientists?

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Noah Petro, Project Scientist for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center says,

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“There are many unanswered questions about the Moon.

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For example, we are still attempting to understand how the Moon evolved to its current state.

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The Moon has occupied space near the Earth for its entire 4.5 billion year history,

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keeping record of the impacts that have scarred its surface over time.

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This record of ancient impacts is largely erased from the Earth due to wind, water, and plate tectonics.

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Analysis of Apollo samples shows that there was a period of intense impact cratering on the Moon early in the history of the Solar System,

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and therefore on the early Earth as well.

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Observations from LRO, now in its 9th year of orbiting the Moon, are helping us piece together this history.”

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As 2019 unfolds with a third Supermoon on March 21st, enjoy the wonderful view and the history that the Moon continues to reveal.

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For more illuminating facts about Supermoons, lunar eclipses, and other marvels of the night sky, visit science.nasa.gov