On the night of Thursday to Friday, all Parisians will have their eyes riveted to the sky to admire a spectacular celestial spectacle. On 29 September, the supermoon will light up the City of Light for the last time this year. What is the supermoon, and where can you go to watch it? Here's how.
La pleine lune au-dessus de Paris.
- © Viacheslav Lopatin / ShutterstockNo, the supermoon is not a new superhero! However spectacular it may be to observe, this phenomenon is completely natural. A supermoon occurs when the moon is at its "perigee", i.e. when it is closest to the Earth, making it larger and brighter.
La super lune, au-dessus de Bordeaux, France.
- © saranya33 / ShutterstockWhile it's usually best to be away from the city and its lights to make the most of celestial events, this year Parisians were particularly spoilt for choice.
The moon was generous and put on a show throughout 2023. After a pink moon in April and a blue supermoon just a month ago, the supermoon on 29 September will be the last of the year. So make the most of it, because the next one isn't due until August 2024.
To get the best possible view of this phenomenon, it's best to take to the heights of Paris. For example, the Butte Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement offers an unobstructed view of Paris and its starry skies.
Other high points can prove to be good spots for observing the supermoon, such as the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, in the 19th arrondissement, or, in the south of Paris: the Butte aux Cailles, in the 13th arrondissement.
Paris la nuit, depuis le Sacré-Coeur.
- © Xavier MARCHANT / Shutterstock
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