Supermoon Saturday has arrived -- now get ready to look up for some "super" skywatching.
The full moon at 11:34 p.m. EDT Saturday will appear 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than normal as it approaches slightly closer to Earth in its orbit, reaching perigee, according to NASA. The moon then will line up with the sun just one minute later.
"It is called a supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment," Dr. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement accompanying a new video on the topic. "The 'super' in supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer."
For the best view, scientists recommend catching a glimpse of the supermoon at moonrise or moonset when it's on the horizon.
Be sure to tweet us your photos at @HuffPostScience, hashtag #supermoon, or you can email us at science@huffingtonpost.com. We'll be collecting user photos from all over, and yours may be featured!
Need some inspiration? Check out these breathtaking images of last year's supermoon:
Supermoon 2011
A perigee moon rises above the Almudena(01 of117)
A perigee moon rises above the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid on March 19, 2011. A perigee moon is visible when the moon's orbit position is at its closest point to Earth during a full moon phase. AFP PHOTOAFP PHOTO/ Pedro ARMESTRE (Photo credit should read PEDRO ARMESTRE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Biggest Moon In Almost 20 Years Rises In DC(02 of117)
WASHINGTON - MARCH 19: In this handout photo provided by NASA, the full moon is seen as it rises near the Lincoln Memorial, March 19, 201, in Washington, DC. The full moon tonight is called a 'Super Perigee Moon' since it is at it's closest to Earth in 2011. The last full moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1993. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A perigee moon rises next to the Nationa(03 of117)
A perigee moon rises next to the National Monument and the Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 19, 2011. A perigee moon is visible when the moon's orbit position is at its closest point to Earth during a full moon phase. The full moon coincided with its closest approach to the Earth, 221,565 miles (356,575 km), making the so-called 'super moon' look slightly larger than average. AFP PHOTO / Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A perigee moon rises in Washington, DC,(04 of117)
A perigee moon rises in Washington, DC, on March 19, 2011. A perigee moon is visible when the moon's orbit position is at its closest point to Earth during a full moon phase. The full moon coincided with its closest approach to the Earth, 221,565 miles (356,575 km), making the so-called 'super moon' look slightly larger than average. AFP PHOTO / Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The full moon rises behind the statue of(05 of117)
The full moon rises behind the statue of Mahathma Gandhi in Hyderabad on March 19, 2011. Full Moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the Moon's orbit. It is an ellipse with one side (perigee) about 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other (apogee). Nearby perigee moons are about 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than lesser moons that occur on the apogee side of the Moon's orbit. According to US Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. 'The full Moon of March 19 occurs less than one hour away from perigeea near-perfect coincidence that happens only 18 years or so'. AFP PHOTO/Noah SEELAM (Photo credit should read NOAH SEELAM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The full moon is seen behind a bronze st(06 of117)
The full moon is seen behind a bronze statue standing on the left bank of Vltava river on Mala Strana Prague's quarter early on March 20, 2011. The full moon coincided with its closest approach to the Earth, 221,565 miles (356,575 km), making the so-called 'super moon' look slightly larger than average. AFP PHOTO / MICHAL CIZEK (Photo credit should read MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The full moon rises over rooftops March(07 of117)
The full moon rises over rooftops March 19, 2011 in this view from the east side of Manhattan in New York. The full moon coincided with its closest approach to the Earth, 221,565 miles (356,575 km), making the so-called 'super moon' look slightly larger than average. AFP PHOTO / Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A March 20, 2011 photo taken at approxim(08 of117)
A March 20, 2011 photo taken at approximately 0457 GMT shows the moon seen from Chevy Chase, Maryland. The moon is in its closest orbit to Earth, at 356,577 Kms away, the closest in 18 years. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The statue of freedom, ontop of the US C(09 of117)
The statue of freedom, ontop of the US Capitol Hill is pictured against a perigee moon as it rises in Washington, DC, on March 19, 2011. A perigee moon is visible when the moon's orbit position is at its closest point to Earth during a full moon phase. The full moon coincided with its closest approach to the Earth, 221,565 miles (356,575 km), making the so-called 'super moon' look slightly larger than average. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
A perigee moon rises in Washington, DC,(10 of117)
A perigee moon rises in Washington, DC, on March 19, 2011. A perigee moon is visible when the moon's orbit position is at its closest point to Earth during a full moon phase. The full moon coincided with its closest approach to the Earth, 221,565 miles (356,575 km), making the so-called 'super moon' look slightly larger than average. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
The full moon rises March 19, 2011 in th(11 of117)
The full moon rises March 19, 2011 in this view from the east side of Manhattan in New York. The full moon coincided with its closest approach to the Earth, 221,565 miles (356,575 km), making the so-called 'super moon' look slightly larger than average. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Supermoon from Fort Hood, Tx(12 of117)
The moon as seen from Ft. Hood, Texas, approximately 2 hours after moonrise.
Super Moon, North Phoenix(15 of117)
Taken during a cloud cover break 9pm AZ time.
Supermoon (18 of117)
Supermoon 19 March 2010 shines brightly over Buckinghamshire, UK
Supermoon Rising Over Downtown Frankfurt, Germany(19 of117)
Uwe Peppel:
Rooftop-terrace view of the full moon rising over downtown Frankfurt on March 19, 2011. The brightly illuminated building front in the foreground is on the 'Zeil', Franfurt's main shopping street.
Rooftop-terrace view of the full moon rising over downtown Frankfurt on March 19, 2011. The brightly illuminated building front in the foreground is on the 'Zeil', Franfurt's main shopping street.
Super Moon Seen in Cochin India(20 of117)
This picture was taken at 3.50 am . Location Cochin Kerala. India
Moon at perigee - Maharagama, Sri Lanka(21 of117)
Anson Holzer:
Earth's Moon at its super-perigee. Maharagama, Sri Lanka. (March 20, 2011)Photo: Anson Holzer
Earth's Moon at its super-perigee. Maharagama, Sri Lanka. (March 20, 2011)Photo: Anson Holzer
Super Moon Over New York City . View from Weehawkeen NJ(24 of117)
Juan Manzano:
Super Moon Over NYC, s viewed from Weehawkeen NJ, Saturday March 19, 2011 -----Juan Manzano
Super Moon Over NYC, s viewed from Weehawkeen NJ, Saturday March 19, 2011 -----Juan Manzano
Illumination(26 of117)
Eric Schilling:
Super moon was beautiful, but Earth stole the show.
Super moon was beautiful, but Earth stole the show.
Our bright and loyal friend(30 of117)
From my roof in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Sam Zvibleman)
Perigee Moon(32 of117)
March 19 2011 The Supermoon rises over Euclid Ohio. William Albright/Albrightartworx
Blue Moon(33 of117)
A perigee moon is a rare event hence the title. William Albright/Albrightartworx
Super Moon(34 of117)
Austin Lepri:
photographed in Frederick Maryland by Austin Lepri.
photographed in Frederick Maryland by Austin Lepri.
Super Moon in Raleigh, North Carolina(37 of117)
The sky was hazy as the Super Moon rose over Raleigh, NC. I shot this photo at around 8:00 p.m. as it was rising. In a hazy glow, it finally appeared over the treeline and peeked from behind the clouds.
Supermoon behind Jupiter Florida Lighthouse(40 of117)
Edward Oest:
Moon rising behind the lens of the Jupiter, Florida lighthouse
Moon rising behind the lens of the Jupiter, Florida lighthouse
The moon (42 of117)
This picture was taken at 8:20 pm . Location WASH.DC USA
super moon from western North Carolina 03/19/11(43 of117)
Robbie Pack:
super moon from western North Carolina 03/19/11
super moon from western North Carolina 03/19/11
Lake Huron Super Moon(49 of117)
Dave Parcells:
Super moon over lake Huron, Lighthouse County Park, Port Hope, MI.
Super moon over lake Huron, Lighthouse County Park, Port Hope, MI.
Supermoon(54 of117)
Supermoon seen through the trees in out backyard in Franklin, PA
Super moon in Western NY(55 of117)
Moon rising behind the trees in Pembroke, NY just before 8 PM.
Supermoon(57 of117)
Supermoon seen trough the trees in our backyard in Franklin, PA
"SuperMoon" (Philadelphia, PA)(60 of117)
Extreme close up of "Super Moon." March 19th, 2011
Supermoon over Tampa(61 of117)
Supermoon over the bay in Tampa with a boat marker in the foreground. Taken by Ginny Terry from St. Petersburg, FL.
Big Moon Bermuda(62 of117)
Sorry you will have to rotate your heads 90 degrees to enjoy this because HP will not allow vertical format photos. The moon always looks better in context...
SuperMoon over Big Spring Tx(64 of117)
The moon rises over south mountain and the radio towersof Big Spring Tx.
Ultra full moon March 19 2011(66 of117)
March 19 2011 Worcester County Massachusetts
Moonrise Papago Park, Phoenix(68 of117)
rockyrococoAZ:
Silhouettes of people in lower foreground. Cloudy on the eastern horizon, moon showed up a few minutes late.
Silhouettes of people in lower foreground. Cloudy on the eastern horizon, moon showed up a few minutes late.
super exhaust (69 of117)
jet exhaust obscures superr moon for cool effect
Supermoon from Ecuador(72 of117)
Pic taken on 19.3.11. Location: Guayaquil, EcuadorPhoto: Andres Encalada
supermoon in Margate Fl.(79 of117)
in my backyard a day late march 20,2011 still beautiful
Supermoon in Pasig(80 of117)
Many attempts to capture the bright light which Supermoon shone over Pasig. There was a distinct yellowish ring around it which was fascinating.
SuperMoon over Big Spring Tx(82 of117)
Moon rising over Big Spring with radio towers in the foreground
Space Bound(85 of117)
Original Super Moon photo by Renee Hoogs from Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, March 19th, 2011. Art by Liz Kover.
Bangalore Supermoon(86 of117)
As seen at 10PM from Bangalore, India© Dustyplanet
Supermoon from Gravelly Point(87 of117)
Supermoon over Gravelly Point near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC
Supermoon Closeup from Gravelly Point(88 of117)
Supermoon Closeup from Gravelly Point near Reagan National Airport in Washington DC
Supermoon from Gravelly Point(89 of117)
Supermoon from Gravelly Point near Reagan National Airport, Washington DC
"Super"moon over Manhattan(91 of117)
Shot of the moon over Manhattan taken from Weehawken, NJ.
Big Moon(96 of117)
Penny WolfFreeland:
taken over Sarasota Bay, Florida March 19.2011 8:19pmPenny Wolf-Freeland
taken over Sarasota Bay, Florida March 19.2011 8:19pmPenny Wolf-Freeland
"Super Moon" over Sarastoa Bay(97 of117)
Penny WolfFreeland:
taken March 19, 2011 at 8:19pm
taken March 19, 2011 at 8:19pm
Moon over Alabama(103 of117)
Steven Stiefel:
The Super Moon as seen from North Alabama on Saturday.
The Super Moon as seen from North Alabama on Saturday.
Super Moon Coming Over The Dunes In Ocean City Maryland(105 of117)
Mick Chester:
Super Moon Coming Over The Dunes In Ocean City Maryland
Super Moon Coming Over The Dunes In Ocean City Maryland
just for a while...(107 of117)
supermoon on a cloudy night in CEBU... appeared for 2 minutes only
SuperMoon over CEBU(108 of117)
cloudy night and the moon made a quick 2 minute appearance
Full Moon over Hampton Roads(109 of117)
Full moon shot taken on 3/19/11 in southeastern VA with a Canon DSLR and telephoto lens.
Supermoon Over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway(110 of117)
John Bellm:
I photographed the Supermoon as it rose over the Atlantic Ocean just north of Carolina Beach, NC at 7:48pm EST.
I photographed the Supermoon as it rose over the Atlantic Ocean just north of Carolina Beach, NC at 7:48pm EST.
Supermoon in Homer Alaska(115 of117)
Rachel Denning:
The moon rises over the mountains that hedge in Kachemak Bay near Homer, Alaska.
The moon rises over the mountains that hedge in Kachemak Bay near Homer, Alaska.
Super Moon - 3/19/2011(116 of117)
Taken during the Lunar Perigee at 11:23PM EDT on 3/19/2011 when the moon was the closest it has been to earth since 1993: about 221,567 miles, as compared to the average distance of 238,000. © Robert K Griffith
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