Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Supermoon:
1. It is used to refer to a full moon 90 percent or closer to Apogee.
2. It has no precise astronomical definition.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
- Full moons can occur at any point along the Moon’s elliptical path, but when a full moon occurs at or near the perigee, it looks slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon. That’s what the term “supermoon” refers to.
- Because supermoon is not an official astronomical term, there is no definition about just how close to perigee the full moon has to be in order to be called “super.”
- Generally, supermoon is used to refer to a full moon 90 percent or closer to perigee.
- A more accurate and scientific term is “perigee syzygy.” Syzygy is the alignment of three celestial bodies, in this case the Sun, Moon and Earth.
Source: ForumIAS
