Feb 2019 supermoon snow moon

Last month we saw the eclipse of the supermoon. This month, 19 Feb, was a super moon, aka the snow moon (the February full moon is called the snow moon). So it is the second supermoon of 2019. But the February full moon is special as it will appear as the largest full moon until 2026.

I watched the moon rise but it was right behind a large tree. I went out and walked down the road hoping for a better view but there was nothing. So I went back and waited for the moon to clear the tree top. The moon rose around 5.20 pm after quite a sunny day.

The moon appears so large because it is at its lunar perigee, its shortest distance from the Earth, making it appear 14 % and 30 % brighter than at its lunar apogee, its furthest point.

Unfortunately as soon as the moon cleared the tree, it became partially hidden by clouds and didn't seem so large -

It is the first full moon of Chinese New Year which was on Feb 5, year of the pig. Today, the 19th is Chap Goh Mei, the end of Chinese New Year.

There will be another supermoon on Mar 21, the last for 2019.