This Week’s ‘Blood’ Supermoon is 2021’s Closest Moon to Earth

May's full moon is a big deal. I mean, literally, a bigger deal than the rest of the year.

This May full moon is 2021’s closest (and therefore biggest and brightest) full moon of the year, according to EarthSky.

May's full moon, on Wednesday, May, 26 is one of four "supermoons" of 2021. There are two to four supermoons each year. These lunar events are often brighter and larger than a normal full moon.

The definition of a supermoon varies, but it's generally defined by how close the moon is to the Earth. Because it is closer to us, it appears bigger than usual.

This is also the month of the 'flower' moon. The full moon is called the "flower" moon in May because it's when flowers blossom across North America, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.

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If you have friends on the west coast, it gets even better for them, moon watchers.

According to NASA, This month brings the “most super” of the year’s supermoons, and on top of that, a total lunar eclipse. In other words, on May 26, the full moon will enter Earth’s shadow — and, when the Moon is not in our planet’s shade, it will appear even bigger and brighter than usual.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the full moon and the sun. The Earth's shadow covers the moon, which often has a red color, hence the "blood" moon nickname.

Unfortunately, the partial eclipse will only be visible across the western U.S. during the predawn hours, so we will miss that part of the show.

However, the next supermoon – the super "Strawberry Moon" will be visible in South Jersey on June 24 and there are three more eclipses scheduled to take place before 2022.

Source: NASA/EarthSky