Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or avoiding the news strenuously, which is understandable) for the past few days, you know that there’s a supermoon a’brewing in the night sky. This isn’t that uncommon of an occurrence—the last supermoon illuminated the skies in 2015—but according to NASA, this one is special because “it’s the closest full moon to Earth since 1948.” It won’t be this bright or beautiful again for another 18 years.
And though the moon was at its “biggest and brightest” earlier this morning (at 6:22 a.m., to be precise), it’ll still be beautiful later tonight. Plus, the weather is rather nice in NYC today, meaning you should get outside and peek at this uncommonly large moon while you can.
New Yorkers are, alas, at a bit of a disadvantage because of the bright lights that illuminate the city on a normal day; but there’ll still be plenty of spots where you can see it clearly. (Pro tip: avoid Midtown.)
Williamsburg waterfront
Thanks to its clear views of both the Manhattan skyline and the East River, this may be a great place for checking out the supermoon if you’re intent on getting a shot of the phenomenon for your Instagram.
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Similarly, this waterfront park has plenty of different spots from which you can observe the moon—go to Fulton Ferry Landing to see it hanging between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, or head to the park’s southern end for views over Lower Manhattan and Governors Island.
Inwood Hill Park
The advantage of this park, perched at Manhattan’s northernmost tip, is that it’s far removed from Midtown’s skyscrapers—so the sky will be a little bit darker, and thus affording a better opportunity to check out the moon.
Staten Island Ferry
If you want to experience the supermoon away from the city landscape entirely, it may not be a bad night to take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. You’ll get to see the moon from a few different vantage points, and may even be able to see it hang behind Lady Liberty on the ride back.
A friend’s rooftop
Do you know someone with roof access? Great! Now’s the time to invite yourself over (bring a snack or a bottle of wine—that always helps) and bask in the glow of nature doing its thing. You’re guaranteed fewer crowds than at most public spots, anyway.
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