See the 2020 Super Worm Moon over NYC and Washington, D.C. in these awesome photos

The Super Wolf Moon is seen as it rises behind the clouds above the U.S. Capitol, on March 9, 2020, in Washington. (Image credit: Joel Kowsky/NASA)

The supermoon on Monday (March 9) inspired some beautiful photography celebrating a close approach of the full moon to Earth.

Since the moon does not orbit our planet in a perfect circle, at times the full moon coincides with the satellite's closest approach to our planet. The full moon of March, known as the Worm Moon, arrived on Monday at 1:48 p.m. EDT (1748 GMT), and it reached perigee, its closest point to Earth, today (March 10) at 2:33 a.m. EDT (0633 GMT), nearly 13 hours later. At the time of perigee, the moon was 223,980 miles (360,461 kilometers) from Earth, compared to its average distance of 240,000 miles (384,400 km).

Practically speaking, it's hard to tell the difference in size with the naked eye. But supermoons still provide an opportunity for us to look up at the night sky and reflect on the significance of Earth's natural satellite, which has preserved much of the solar system's history, since there is no weather or atmosphere eroding its surface. This makes the moon an attractive target for science missions, human exploration and also photographs.

The Super Worm Moon rises above the Statue of Liberty in New York City, on March 9, 2020. (Image credit: Chirag Upreti)

Astrophotographer and regular Space.com contributor Chirag Upreti took in the sights of New York City during the supermoon, including the shots you see here of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building backdropped by the moon.

An airplane "photobombs" the nearly-full Worm Moon above the Empire State Building in New York City, on March 8, 2020. (Image credit: Chirag Upreti)

"A day after International Women's Day, the supermoon rises with Lady Liberty in the foreground," Upreti told Space.com in an email. "It was an epic moonrise, and as I clicked the shutter, I had to take time to view it visibly with the naked eye. The first thought in my mind was, since eons, humans must have stopped and gawked at a full moon rise when it's this clear. [It's] such a treat."

The first supermoon of the year peers through a blanket of clouds above the U.S. Capitol in Washington in this photo captured by NASA photographer Joel Kowsky on Monday (March 9). Also known as the "Worm Moon," the full moon of March nearly coincided with the moon's perigee, or the closest point to Earth in the moon's elliptical orbit. The moon was officially full on Monday at 1:48 p.m. EDT (1748 GMT), at it reached perigee almost 13 hours later, at 2:33 a.m. EDT (0633 GMT) today. — (Image credit: Joel Kowsky/NASA)

Another iconic American structure made it into NASA photographer Joel Kowsky's work from Washington. The moon, shrouded a little bit by clouds, pops up just to the side of the U.S. Capitol Building, where decisions about NASA's funding and direction are discussed by politicians.

One of the matters being talked about there right now is NASA's ability to bring humans back to the moon by 2024. The agency says it is committed to the goal, but it will also need to prepare a rocket, a spaceship, spacesuits and other equipment rapidly to reach the mark.

A flock of seagulls take off into the evening twilight as the almost-full Worm Moon glows over the New York City skyline, on March 8, 2020. (Image credit: Chirag Upreti)

Back in New York, Upreti said he was glad of another shot that ties in the moon's connection to nature on Earth, as well as our urban activity.

"Seagulls briefly flocked out light at twilight was the almost-super moon (illuminated at greater than 99%) rose over the midtown skyline, with the Empire State Building in view, after sundown pastel hues," Upreti said. "It was a beautiful sight, that connected the urban scene with these birds."

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

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1 Comment Comment from the forums

rod

Admin said:
Photographers celebrated the first "supermoon" of the year by capturing some breathtaking images of the bigger-than-usual full moon over the U.S. Capitol and New York City.

See the 2020 Super Worm Moon over NYC and Washington, D.C. in these awesome photos : Read more

"The supermoon on Monday (March 9) inspired some beautiful photography celebrating a close approach of the full moon to Earth. Since the moon does not orbit our planet in a perfect circle, at times the full moon coincides with the satellite's closest approach to our planet."

I did briefly observe the Full Moon yesterday evening with unaided eyes. Someone today asked me about my telescopes and if I could see the Moon. I answered yes and they wanted more information. Turns out the individual was a flat earther and their thinking about the flat moon is very different, especially compared to what I see using my telescopes :)
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