How to — potentially — see the Super Moon in the NW tonight
Feb 18, 2019, 10:06 AM | Updated: 10:21 am
(AP Photo Marco Ugarte)
(AP Photo Marco Ugarte)
The second Super Moon of 2019 is expected to brighten the sky early on Tuesday, Feb. 19. But despite appearing 14 percent larger, and 30 percent brighter than usual, seeing this Super Moon may be challenging in the Northwest.
“Clouds will continue to increase through the night, so earlier is better if you can get a glimpse of it,” said Jeff Michalski with the National Weather Service.
While Michalski says that the clouds are going to make viewing the super bright, super big moon a challenge, there is still a chance to spot it. But sky watchers will have to be patient and keep a keen eye.
“We do have partly cloudy skies during the nighttime period,” Michalski said. “If you can get a glimpse in between, you might be able to see it. But we are not talking about a clear, cloudless sky night.”
“Perhaps, if you really want to go check it out, you would have to go out into Eastern Washington,” he said.
A Super Moon occurs when the moon is full while closest to the Earth, known as its perigee. It’s the kind of sight that rom-coms love, or werewolves. Either way, it is expected to happen three times in 2019.
The first was the Super Blood Wolf Moon that occurred on Jan. 20-21, when the moon not only was full, but was eclipsed, giving it a reddish color.
This month’s Super Moon on Feb. 19 is expected to shine above the Northwest in the early morning hours of Tuesday. This event also has a flashy name — the Snow Moon. Which not only sounds cool (like its Super Blood Wolf Moon counterpart), but is also apt given the recent snowy February weather.
The final Super Moon of 2019 will happen on March 21. The name for this event is perhaps the least appealing — the Worm Moon.
