The moon will appear slightly smaller than usual this weekend due to a phenomenon occurring only three times this year.
The variation of a full moon – known as a micromoon – will look slightly smaller and dimmer on Saturday night. But the change may be tricky to spot with the naked eye.
How does a micromoon happen?
A micromoon occurs when it reaches its furthest away from Earth during orbit, also known as its apogee.
“It’s a very subtle difference,” said astrophysicist Alain Brizard from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont.
The phenomenon happens when the moon is at a point farthest away from Earth. It’s opposite to a supermoon, where the moon swings closer to Earth and looks a bit larger.
How and when can I see the micromoon?
To see the micromoon, go outside and look up in an area with a clear view of the moon.
In Chicago, the micromoon will be visible at 7:23 p.m. Saturday, according to a moon phase website.
When is the next time I can see a micromoon after this weekend?
The next micromoon will occur on May 12 at 11:58 a.m. In 2026, micromoons will happen on May 1, May 31 and June 29.
Contributing: AP