Yes, there really is a rare supermoon during November 2016

When it comes to astronomy related things we hear on social media, we often see plenty of nonsense.

Case in point, the persistent codswallop that resurfaces every hear that claims NASA has confirmed “15 days of darkness during November”. Spoiler – they haven’t,

So – amidst questions from our readers – we thought we’d take the time to point out that the stories of a “supermoon” rising in our skies on the 13/14th of November 2016 is actually true!

A “supermoon” is the term we use to describe the instance when the moon is at the ‘full’ stage at the same time its elliptical orbit comes closest to the Earth. And this upcoming supermoon will be exceptionally large, with the moon being at its biggest and brightest since 1948. According to NASA, we won’t see this again until 2034.

It’s the perfect opportunity for photographers everywhere, who will no doubt be collectively hoping for a cloudless evening.

If you want to take advantage of seeing this rare event, the advice may seem pretty obvious. Get out of the city, towards rural areas where light pollution is lower, and if you are so inclined, there are plenty of apps available that will track the moons progress through the sky so you’ll know when and where to look.