The night sky unveiled a breathtaking astronomical phenomenon on January 3, 2026, as the first super moon of the year made its spectacular appearance. This celestial event, characterized by the moon’s unusually close orbital proximity to Earth, created a visually larger and significantly brighter lunar display than typical full moons.
The remarkable phenomenon was captured in stunning photographs over Tongjiang city in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, where the super moon appeared as a magnificent luminous orb against the night canvas. This occurrence marks the initial of several super moons anticipated throughout 2026, each offering unique opportunities for astronomical observation and photography.
Super moons occur when the moon’s elliptical orbit brings it to the closest point to Earth (perigee) simultaneously with the full moon phase. This orbital alignment can make the moon appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter compared to its appearance at the farthest point (apogee). The scientific community emphasizes that while super moons create visually striking appearances, they remain a predictable orbital phenomenon rather than an unusual astronomical event.
The January super moon attracted attention from both amateur stargazers and professional astronomers worldwide, serving as a reminder of the dynamic relationships within our celestial neighborhood. Such events continue to inspire public interest in astronomy and space science while providing researchers with opportunities to study the moon’s surface features under enhanced lighting conditions.