This supermoon is one of three occurring in a row. The first appeared on December 3, and we’ll see the third on January 31.
On January 1, 2018, New Year’s Day, the wolf moon will also be the first supermoon of the year.
Supermoons occur when a full moon coincides with the time that the moon is closest to Earth.
They don’t necessarily appear all that different from regular full moons, but this one is special because it’s one of three happening in a row — and the super blue moon on January 31 will also coincide with a lunar eclipse.
January 1 won’t just bring in the New Year. On New Year’s Day, we’ll also see the first supermoon of 2018.
Each full moon of the year has been given various names by different cultures around the world. The first moon of the New Year, the wolf moon, is named after the idea that wolves howl at the moon.
And in this case, it’s also a supermoon, the name given to a full moon that arrives when the moon happens to be at or near the part of its orbit closest to Earth.
Tech: The first supermoon of 2018 will appear on New Year’s Day — and it’s more special than usual
