According to the definition of supermoon coined by an astrologer, Richard Nolle, over 30 years ago – and popularized only in the past few years – the year 2014 has a total of five supermoons. They are the two new moons of January, and the full moons of July, August and September. Follow the links below to learn about the supermoons of 2014.
By that definition, the year 2014 has a total of five supermoons. The first supermoon, for 2014, came on New Year’s Day, with the January 1 new moon. The second came with the new moon of January 30, 2014. The full moons of July, August and September will also be supermoons, by Nolle’s definition. Thus, the next supermoons – aka perigee full moons – in 2014 are:
Full moon of July 12 at 11:25 UTC
Full moon of August 10 at 18:09 UTC
Full moon of September 9 at 1:38 UTC
The full moon on August 10, 2014, will present the closest supermoon of the year (356,896 kilometers or 221,765 miles).
Spring tides will accompany the July, August and September supermoons. Will the tides be larger than usual at the July, August and September 2014 full moons? Yes, all full moons (and new moons) combine with the sun to create larger-than-usual tides, but perigee full moons (or perigee new moons) elevate the tides even more.
Each month, on the day of the new moon, the Earth, moon and sun are aligned, with the moon in between. This line-up creates wide-ranging tides, known as spring tides. High spring tides climb up especially high, and on the same day low tides plunge especially low.
The July, August and September extra-close full moons will accentuate the spring tide, giving rise to what’s called a perigean spring tide. If you live along an ocean coastline, watch for high tides caused by these full moons.
Will these high tides cause flooding? Probably not, unless a strong weather system accompanies the perigean spring tide. Still, keep an eye on the weather, because storms do have a large potential to accentuate perigean spring tides.
What is a supermoon?
What did astronomers call these moons before we called them supermoons?
When are the next supermoons in 2014?
Spring tides will accompany the July, August and September supermoons.
Dates of closest full supermoons in past and future years
What is a Black Moon?
- EarthSky
