‘Supermoon’ Lights Skies This Week

Stargazers on the Eastside are in for a treat—if the weather cooperates.

According to astronomers at Discovery.com, the moon will officially become full on Saturday (May 5) at 8:35 p.m. PDT. and because this month’s full moon coincides with the moon’s perigee—its closest approach to Earth—it will also be the year’s biggest.

The lunar orbit is not a perfect circle, so the moon’s distance from the earth varies with each revolution. the moon’s average distance from Earth is 237,700 miles (382,500 km), but this week the moon will come within 221,802 miles from Earth, causing higher- and lower-than-normal tides in the Puget Sound.

The “Super Moon” might be mostly obscured by clouds and rain for much of this week, with National Weather Service forecasters predicting mostly cloudy conditions at night. but Sunday’s forecast calls for sunshine during the day high near 66, and a partly cloudy evening, with a low around 46.

‘Supermoon’ Lights Skies This Week