Also called perigee full moon, perigee-syzygy, super full moon
A supermoon is a full (or new) moon that happens when the moon is near perigee, its closest point to Earth, so it looks somewhat bigger and brighter than usual. The term was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, and this page gives a tide-and-intention rite for it.
Tonight's moon is read when the page loads.
Take care: Stay well back from the water's edge during king tides, which can flood paths and catch people off guard. Keep any candle in a fireproof holder and never leave it burning unattended.
Richard Nolle introduced the word in Dell Horoscope magazine, defining it as a new or full moon within 90 percent of its closest approach. He linked supermoons to earthquakes and storms; those claims have been refuted, but the word caught on.
Nolle drew on Fergus Wood's 1976 NOAA work on the strong tides that come when perigee lines up with a new or full moon. These king tides can measurably raise coastal flooding and erosion, which is the real-world effect of a supermoon.
The full moon of November 14, 2016 was the closest since January 1948 and will not be beaten until November 2034, drawing huge public attention to the term. Even then, most viewers could not tell the difference by eye without a side-by-side photo.
The word supermoon came from astrology, not astronomy. Richard Nolle coined it in Dell Horoscope in 1979, borrowing the idea from Fergus Wood's 1976 NOAA book on perigean spring tides. Astronomers prefer perigee-syzygy or perigee full moon, and there is no single official cutoff for how close the moon must be. NASA itself used Super Moon in a headline in 2012, which helped bring the term into the mainstream.
A full moon at perigee looks about 14 percent wider and lights the ground about 30 percent more than one at apogee, the farthest point, though the difference from an ordinary full moon is smaller. The tidal pull is slightly stronger, producing higher king tides. Claims that supermoons trigger earthquakes or disasters have been refuted. Supermoons usually come in runs of two to four consecutive full moons.
A full moon ritual is a simple monthly practice done at home on the night of the full moon to give thanks, release what is finished and charge water or tools in the moonlight. This is a complete solo version for beginners, separate from the Wiccan coven esbat.
A blood moon is the copper-to-deep-red moon seen during a total lunar eclipse, when the only sunlight reaching it has passed through Earth's atmosphere. It has been read as an omen in many cultures, and this page gives a safe, quiet watching rite for the eclipse night.
What a blue moon really is, where the meaning came from, and how modern witches use it: as a rare extra full moon for long-term wishes. The popular rule of the second full moon in a month comes from a 1946 magazine mistake.
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