Exploring Super and Micro Moons: Are Any Left in 2024?

A super full moon, also known as a supermoon, occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit, called perigee. This close proximity makes the moon appear larger and brighter in the sky than usual. Supermoons can appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a regular full moon, though the difference may not always be easily discernible to the naked eye. Supermoons are relatively rare events and can create spectacular views for skywatchers.

The remaining super full moons of 2024 will be on 18th September and 17th October.

A micro new moon occurs when the new moon coincides with the moon’s farthest point from Earth in its orbit, called apogee. During a micro new moon, the moon appears slightly smaller in the sky than usual because it is farther away from Earth. Unlike supermoons, which appear larger and brighter, micro new moons may not be as noticeable to the naked eye due to their reduced size and brightness. These events are also relatively rare and can offer interesting astronomical observations for enthusiasts.

The remaining micro new moon of 2024 will be on 2nd October, which coincides with an annular (ring of fire) eclipse.

The Sub-Neptune Radius Valley: A Preview of Our New Module “The Solar System and Exoplanets”

Excited for the second year of our new Physics with Astrophysics degree program at the University of Lincoln! Right now, I’m fully immersed, working on one of our new modules called “The Solar System and Exoplanets.” We’re diving deep into how planets form and trying to unravel the mystery of the huge variety of exoplanets we keep discovering. Check out this quick video for a taste of what we’re digging into in the module.


The apparent lack of planets with radii 1.5–2 times that of Earth is known as the Sub-Neptune radius valley. First noted in 2011, a bimodality in the Kepler exoplanet population was ascribed to the lack of substantial gas atmospheres on close-in, low-mass planets. It was mentioned that this trait could support the growing theory that atmospheric mass loss could be caused by photoevaporation. This would result in a population of planets with thick envelopes dominated by helium and hydrogen with bigger radii at higher separations from their parent stars, and a population of naked, rocky cores with lower radii at small separations.

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