Pictured: Last night’s ‘Thunder Moon’ above southwestern France
A Connexion reader captured the Moon’s larger, brighter appearance at 23:00
Last night’s ‘Thunder Moon’ was photographed by a Connexion reader in southwestern France
Graham Berry
The ‘Thunder Moon’ which was visible across France last night (July 13) has been photographed by Connexion reader Graham Berry.
Read more: Look up: ‘Thunder Moon’ 2022 to be visible across France
The Moon’s orbit of the Earth is more of an oval than a circle, and last night it was only 356,509 kilometres away from us, 400 kilometres closer than most ‘supermoons’.
This meant that it appeared up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual, especially between 22:23 and 04:52.
It is known as a ‘Thunder Moon’ due to the association between this time of year and the likelihood of summer thunderstorms. It is also sometimes known as the Full Buck Moon, because a buck’s antlers are typically fully grown by this time of year.
Mr Berry photographed the moon at 23:00 last night, with the Tour Donjon de Montcuq (Lot) in the foreground.
The Tour de Montcuq is an historic monument which once formed part of a castle constructed in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
It was originally a Cathar Christian stronghold, but was captured by Simon de Montfort in 1212. It passed from French to English control and back again several times during the Hundred Years’ War, and was plundered by the Huguenots in the sixteenth century.
Today, only the tower remains, and this was the scene of Mr Berry’s impressive photograph.
Mr Berry is a photographer who partly specialises in night sky scenes, as well as weddings, landscapes, portraits, food and flowers.
He was also out photographing the ‘super blood Moon’ created by the total lunar eclipse that took place in May, and the result can be seen at the link below.
Read more: Pictured: Monday’s lunar eclipse as it appeared in south-west France
You can find out more about his work on his website.
Please share any photographs that you took of the Moon or any other natural events in France via news@connexionfrance.com
Related articles
Earthshine: Rare lunar event to look out for from France
What was the mysterious glowing object spotted over French skies?
