This Saturday, May 5 will be the largest moon of the year, and it happens to be a full moon.
The moon passes through cycles of “perigee” and “apogee”, in which it moves closer (perigee) and further (apogee) from the earth, because the moon’s orbit isn’t completely circular. This full moon will be only 221,802 miles from earth, making it appear 16% brighter than average. Notably, this perigee moon will affect the earth’s oceans more than usual, creating much stronger tides for a few weeks.
Interestingly, this year’s largest moon coincides with the onset of the thunderstorm season here in Southern Ontario. Thursday evening (May 3) saw the first major storm of spring, with sheet and forked lightning spreading across the sky and booming thunder. The humidity still in the air suggests more storms to come.