2013 Supermoon: How and Where to Best View Peak on June 22-23

The 2013 Supermoon is set to peak from Saturday to Sunday, June 22-23, as the Moon makes its closest approach to planet Earth at a distance of over 200,000 miles. Viewers can witness the moon appearing 14% bigger and approximately 30% brighter compared to the regular full moon without any clouds covering the clear view.

Sky watchers are advised to grab cameras and chairs as they head outside, particularly on the beach this Saturday, to watch the moon as it rises at 7:41 p.m. over Ocean City. On Sunday, the Supermoon or Perigree Moon can be spotted at moonrise or moonset on the horizon.

Coastal residents can anticipate high tides and low tides during the weekend. The 2013 Supermoon is expected to make the tides become even higher or lower compared to a normal full moon's effect.

The Ayers Creek Adventures just outside of Berlin offers the public a viewing of the full moon paddles from May to October and highlighting the Saturday and Sunday peak for the 2013 Supermoon rise. "It's extra special when we have a big moon. We can watch the sunset to the one side and then we can see the moon rise coming up on the other side," Ayers Creek Adventures' Suzie Taylor stated.

Don Surles of Smyrna, an amateur astronomer and president of the Delmarva Stargazers, revealed he will be viewing the Supermoon rise at Woodland Beach this weekend. The amateur astronomer shared that the huge size of the Moon coming up over the horizon is an optical illusion in reality.

"When it comes up, it's going to look like a beach ball that you're sitting on, all squished. The edges of the moon actually distort, because the layers of atmosphere cause it to wiggle. When it gets 10 degrees above the water, it's pretty round. As it gets up in the sky, it will get smaller and smaller to your eye," Surles explained.

In Northern Nevada, the Supermoon will reach its massive size for viewing at 4:32 a.m. on Sunday, June 23. Viewers will still be able to catch another Supermoon experience in July but it will not be at a close distance like this one until August 2014.