A super snow moon, the second of 2019’s three supermoons, will set the evening skies alight Monday and Tuesday. It’s supposed to be the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2019, according to NASA.
Supermoon events happen when the moon is full or nearly full, and also at the nearest point to the Earth along its orbit. Called the “perigee,” that point is just under 222,000 miles from the Earth’s surface on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
The super snow moon sets over houses in Orange, CA on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. This was the second of 2019’s three supermoons and is supposed to be the biggest and brightest of the three. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A man walks along the Huntington Beach Pier as the Super Snow Moon sets early on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2019 in Huntington Beach. The moon is approximately ten percent larger due to its being relatively close to Earth. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The Super Snow Moon is seen behind the Angel Moroni statue atop the Redlands California Temple in Redlands on Monday, February 18, 2019. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pigeons fly just above the Huntington Beach Pier as the Super Snow Moon sets early on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2019 in Huntington Beach. The moon is approximately ten percent larger due to its being relatively close to Earth. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The super snow moon seen from Santa Ana College rises above the clouds at sunset in Santa Ana on Monday, February 18, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Super Snow Moon is seen above the snow covered mountains in the San Bernardino National Forest on Monday, February 18, 2019. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Snow Moon sets in Irvine on Tuesday, Feb 19, 12019. (Photo by Gizella Nyquist)
A man walks along the Huntington Beach Pier as the Super Snow Moon sets early on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2019 in Huntington Beach. The moon is approximately ten percent larger due to its being relatively close to Earth. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A jet passes beneath the super snow moon as it rises above the clouds at sunset as seen from Santa Ana on Monday, February 18, 2019. This is the second of 2019’s three supermoons and is supposed to be the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2019, according to NASA. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The super snow moon seen from Santa Ana College rises above the clouds at sunset in Santa Ana on Monday, February 18, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Super Snow Moon sets over the Huntington Beach Pier early on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2019 in Huntington Beach, as people go for their morning walk. The moon is approximately ten percent larger due to its being relatively close to Earth. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Super Snow Moon is seen behind the Angel Moroni statue atop the Redlands California Temple in Redlands on Monday, February 18, 2019. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A jet passes the super snow moon as it rises above the clouds as seen from Santa Ana on Monday, February 18, 2019. This is the second of 2019’s three supermoons and is supposed to be the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2019, according to NASA. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The super snow moon sets over a hillside in Orange, CA on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. This was the second of 2019’s three supermoons and is supposed to be the biggest and brightest of the three. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A man walks along the Huntington Beach Pier as a sea gull flies across the face of the Super Snow Moon as it sets early on Tuesday morning, February 19, 2019 in Huntington Beach. The moon is approximately ten percent larger due to its being relatively close to Earth. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, which lists the names of full moon months used by the Algonquin tribes to track the seasons, February is known as the “snow moon” month due to heavy snowfall. Ergo, “super snow moon.”
The last supermoon took place less than a month ago. The dramatic event of a “super blood wolf moon” coupled with a total lunar eclipse inspired viewing parties around Southern California.
While it’ll be nippy outside, there should be few clouds to spoil the view of the super snow moon. Mostly clear skies are forecast for Monday and Tuesday evenings with lows from the mid-30s to the low-40s, according to the National Weather Service.
Giant leap for mankind
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, the first moon landing.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon’s surface, an event broadcast on live television to an audience around the globe.
The third and final supermoon of 2019 falls on Thursday, March 21.
