How the 'Supermoon' Looks (Infographic)

Learn what makes a big full moon a true 'supermoon' in this Space.com infographic.

(Image credit: Karl Tate/Space.com)

Editor's note: To find out more about the rare supermoon lunar eclipse of Sept. 27-28 and how to see it, visit: Supermoon Lunar Eclipse 2015: Full 'Blood Moon' Coverage. Such an event won't happen again until 2033.

A supermoon is a spectacular sight in which the full moon of a given month occurs at the same time the moon is at perigee – the point in its orbit that brings it closest to Earth. During these events, the moon can appear up to 30 percent brighter and 14 percent bigger to skywatchers on Earth. See how the supermoon, or "perigee moon," works in the SPACE.com infographic.

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Karl's association with Space.com goes back to 2000, when he was hired to produce interactive Flash graphics. From 2010 to 2016, Karl worked as an infographics specialist across all editorial properties of Purch (formerly known as TechMediaNetwork). Before joining Space.com, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web. He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University and now works as a freelance graphic designer in New York City.