Last full moon of 2017 is a supermoon


A file picture of the last supermoon observed from Kuching, Sarawak in Nov 14, 2016. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

PETALING JAYA: The last full moon of 2017 will be the first, last and only supermoon of the year that can be seen with the naked eye.

A supermoon occurs when the full moon is at its closest distance to earth, a point which is called the perigree.

Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a full moon at its furthest distance from earth.

This December's supermoon made its appearance Sunday at 11.57pm.

On average, supermoons only appear about once every 14 months.

However, this supermoon kicks off a "trilogy" of supermoon appearances, the next ones calculated to emerge on Jan 1 and 31, 2018.

Experts say the supermoon on Jan 31 would be a special one, as it would feature both a lunar eclipse and a blue moon (the second full moon in a month).

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