However, Petro noted the difference between a supermoon and a full moon is subtle. “You have to be looking to see it,” he added.
To help spot the differences, NASA offers an animation depicting the lunar phases for 2026, allowing sky watchers to visualize the moon throughout the year.
For optimal viewing, local conditions allowing, you don’t need special glasses — you can safely observe the moon with your eyes or use a telescope or binoculars for a closer look, Petro said. It’s ideal to find a dark place with a clear view of the horizon, but if that’s not possible, your favorite beach or hangout spot works, too.
“Being in a place that is meaningful and enjoying the full moon makes it that much more special,” Petro added.
An eye on the moon and a future mission
With NASA’s Artemis II expected to send a four-person crew around the moon as soon as early February, Petro encourages people to observe Earth’s closest celestial neighbor in the lead-up to the highly anticipated mission. It will mark the first time astronauts venture beyond near-Earth orbit in more than 50 years.
“Go out and look up and just become awestruck” at January’s supermoon, he
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