The moon will appear its biggest and brightest of all year tonight.
A “Super Snow Moon” will be visible over Ireland tonight, February 19, and it promises to be the brightest moon of the year.
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First defined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, a supermoon is “a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90 percent of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.”
“In short, the earth, sun, and the moon are all in a line, with the moon at its nearest approach to earth,” Nolle said.
The term “snow” moon was first coined by the Native American community and refers to a moon that occurs in February, typically the snowiest month of the year.
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On February 19, the moon will be only 356,846 km (222,000 miles) away from Earth, its shortest distance all year, leading the moon to appear around 10 percent bigger than usual.
The Irish super snow moon will be it’s brightest from 5:10 pm local Irish time and will be visible throughout the night.
On Twitter, Barry Rogers shared a stunning picture of Co Kerry's Gap of Dunloe illuminated by moonlight:
The moon was so bright in Waterville I thought we had a new streetlight!
— Today in Ireland (@todayInIreland) February 19, 2019
Wild Atlantic Waterville - only seafront village on the Ring of Kerry! Come see us! #Ireland
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The rare event isn’t expected to return to Irish skies until March 2026, so better take a look up while you can!
February’s Super Snow Moon is the second of three lunar spectacles that Irish stargazers have been treated to this year. In January, a Super Blood Moon was over Ireland, and on March 21, viewers will be able to take in a Super Worm Moon.
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