First Supermoon of the Year Lights Up Indian Skies, Wolf Moon Visible Across Cities

The beginning of this year has witnessed its first supermoon on Saturday. The moon, observed during the full moon in January every year, is known by another name: "Wolf Moon". The Supermoon is 30% brighter and 14% larger than the regular full moon. This occurs because of another phenomenon known as full illusion. The Supermoon is observable from Lucknow, as well as other cities around the country. The Supermoon appeared after sunset on Saturday.

It was noticed in the capital, Delhi, around 6 pm, and it reached its peak around 7 pm. It will remain shining the whole night. The rising of the moon in Lucknow was low in the sky, with the orange-yellow color evident.

A similar sight was witnessed in Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata. Compared to the hustle and bustle of cities, the view from villages, forests, or high rooftops was even more spectacular. Many astronomy enthusiasts were seen enjoying the spectacle without any special equipment. Others also viewed this breathtaking sight through telescopes. People shared photos and videos of the shining moon on social media.

The moon's orbit is elliptical, not circular. This is why its distance from Earth varies. When the moon is at its closest point to Earth, it appears larger and brighter than a typical full moon. On Saturday night, the moon was approximately 362,000 kilometers from Earth. Purnima is a Sanskrit word. The full moon day occurs every month when the full moon appears in the sky.

The full moon in January is often referred to as the Wolf Moon in the Northern Hemisphere. This is a time of year when the nights are longer and colder. Wolves in the wild howl loudly at night due to the scarcity of food. It is believed that the name comes from folklore about wolves howling more often. This phenomenon is also special because the effects of ocean tides are more pronounced during this time.