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Final supermoon of 2021 set to brighten Kent's night sky this week

By: Chloe Holmwood cholmwood@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 20:41, 23 June 2021

Updated: 07:54, 24 June 2021

Skygazers across Kent are set to be treated to the final “supermoon” of the year tonight.

The celestial event is expected to be visible at dusk on June 24, when the moon is at its closest point to Earth.

Skygazers in Kent will be treated to a 'strawberry moon' on June 24. Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA

During this time, the Earth’s natural satellite will appear around 14% bigger and 30% brighter.

The full moon in June is also known as the “strawberry moon” as it coincides with the harvesting season of the fruit in North America.

Jake Foster, astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, said the best time to see the supermoon in the UK would be in the in the evening after sunset.

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He said: “The strawberry moon will be the final supermoon of 2021, and it will reach its peak on June 24 at 19:39 BST, though in the UK the moon won’t rise until about an hour after this time.”

He added: “A supermoon is the result of a full moon occurring when the moon is near its closest point to the Earth in its orbit.

Earlier this month, skygazers were treated to a partial solar eclipse and amateur astronomer Martin Lambdon captured this shot from his home in Ightham. Picture:Martin Lambdon

“This can occur because the moon orbits the Earth on an elliptical path, rather than a circular one.

“Since this means that the moon is slightly closer to us, it appears slightly bigger in the sky.”

He said the best way to see the strawberry moon would be to look southeast just after sunset.

“The moon will make its way west throughout the night before setting in the southwest just after sunrise," Mr Foster said.

“You don’t need any special equipment to observe this event and there is no particular location you need to be to see it – as this is a bright full moon, as long as the skies are clear of clouds, it will be easy to spot whether you are in a light-polluted city or a dark area of countryside.”

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Earlier this month, skygazers in the UK were treated to a partial solar eclipse.

Other celestial wonders that have been on show in the county over the years, can be found here.

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