Local photographer Rebecca Cunningham captured this photo of the supermoon from Fredericksburg City Dock on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016.
The term supermoon refers to a moon that turns full at the same time it hits perigee — the point on its orbit when it’s closest to Earth. It makes the full moon look bigger to us on Earth.
Supermoons occur about once every 14 months on average, according to NASA. But this supermoon is more special because it’s the closest the moon has come to Earth since January 26, 1948, when it came 30 miles closer.
The next time the moon comes this close won’t be until November 24, 2034. Then the distance between the Earth and its moon will be 40 miles less.
The 2016 supermoon will reach its peak at 8:52 am EST on November 14. “Viewing will still be super after sunset on both November 13 and 14, with only subtle difference in the moon’s size and brightness,” NASA said.
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