Five places to watch Saturday's supermoon

On Saturday evening the largest full moon of the year will rise from the sea to the east of the city. The city's amateur astronomers' association and the city weather office have published a viewing map that marks five places with an open view and easy transport, with what to look for at each and when to arrive.

A supermoon is a full moon that falls close to perigee, the nearest point of the moon's orbit. A tutor with the association explains that on Saturday evening the moon will be about 357,000 km from Earth, 27,000 km nearer than average, and will look 14 per cent larger and about 30 per cent brighter than the smallest full moon of the year. "The difference is not as dramatic as it is in photographs. What really makes the moon seem enormous is the ten minutes or so after it leaves the horizon, with a ridge or a roofline beside it for comparison."

Five viewing points

Moonrise is at 6.12 pm, almost due east. The weather office forecasts cloud giving way to clear skies during Saturday, less cloud after dark and good visibility.

For the camera

• A tripod and a long lens matter more than the camera body; it takes 200 mm or more to make the moon look large.
• Meter for the face of the moon, or it will burn out to a white patch.
• On a phone, tap the moon to focus first, then drag the brightness down.
• Choose a pavilion, a tree or a roof ridge for the foreground beforehand; the best of the moonrise lasts only about ten minutes.

The association adds that no special equipment is needed, and a balcony at home will do as well. For the summit pavilion take a torch and walk the hill path in company; the sea wall is windy at night, so dress warmly. If Saturday is cloudy there is no cause for regret: the moon is almost as round a day either side, and the next full moon is the Mid-Autumn one.