Super new moon occurs when the distance of the closest moon coincides with the new moon.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA—The moon is a celestial body that orbits the Earth. The shape of the Moon as seen from Earth will change because the light source of the Moon as seen from Earth is the reflection of sunlight.
According to a press release on the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) website, changes in the shape of the Moon as seen from Earth are called the phases of the Moon. Of the several phases of the Moon, there are four main phases, namely the new moon phase, the early half full moon (first quarter), the full moon phase, and the final half full moon (last quarter).
The period of revolution of the Moon in its orbital plane calculated from the position of the new moon phase to the initial half full moon phase to the final half full moon phase and back to the new moon phase is called the synodic period, which takes an average of 29.53059 days (29 day 12 hours 44 minutes 03 seconds).
Astronomy Researcher at the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space-National Research and Innovation Agency (Lapan-BRIN) Prof. Thomas Djamaluddin reveals the new moon with the closest distance to Earth or super new moon will occur on January 22 and February 20, 2023.
He also explained how the super new moon happened. “The Moon’s orbit is oval. There is a moment closest to Earth and two weeks later farthest. On the other hand, the Earth-Moon-Sun configuration allows for new moons (when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth) and full moons (when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon). The super new moon occurs when the closest moon is (almost) at the same time as the new moon,” said Thomas, when contacted by Republika, Wednesday (18/1/2023).
Thomas said the new moon was not observed because it was dark. After that, he said, at the next maghrib the new moon was seen. “So the super new moon will not be observed, it will only be seen in the impact at maximum tide on the beach,” he said.
This super new moon has an impact, namely maximum tides on the coast because the new moon effect will be amplified by the closest position of the moon. “So we need to watch out for potential tidal flood around January 21-22, 2023,” he said.
Previously, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Indramayu Regency, West Java Province, asked people in coastal areas to be wary of rising tide levels, which could trigger tidal floods. This is in line with information from BMKG related to the super new moon phenomenon or new moon phase, which coincides with perigee (the closest distance from the moon to earth) on January 21, 2023.
The Chief Executive of Indramayu Regency, Dadang Oce Iskandar, said that he had received this information. He admitted that he had disseminated the information to a special sub-district group whose area is on the coast of Indramayu. “We urge the community and village government to be vigilant, especially if in the next three days there are big waves,” said Oce, Tuesday (17/1/2023).
