With fair skies on the horizon Sunday and Monday evening, Muscovites will have ample opportunity to catch a glimpse of a supermoon, an unusual occurrence where the moon appears about 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter, ITAR-Tass reported.
Because of the moon's apparently enhanced size and luminosity, residents of the capital wishing to observe the phenomenon should be able to do so citywide, without having to seek higher ground away from light pollution.
While ordinary full moons, which take place every month, are nothing to write home about, a supermoon is much rarer. The phenomenon can only take place when the moon is at its orbital perigee — the point in its orbit when it is closest to earth — a coincidence that only takes place every 144 days, on average.
The moon's perigee is at 357,000 kilometers from the Earth, while its apogee — the farthest point from Earth — is 406,000 kilometers.
Typically these events take place about twice a year, but 2014 has already seen four supermoons, with the fifth and final set to take place on Sept. 9.
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