Solar eclipse fans can look forward to the next supermoon on December 3

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      Now that the solar eclipse has happened in Vancouver, stargazers are circling their calendars for the next big astronomical event.

      While some might think it's the looming arrival of an asteroid called Florence on September 1, that's still going to be 18 Earth-moon distances from our planet.

      It won't make for anything spectacular for those looking with a naked eye.

      But a supermoon? That's a different story.

      The next one is due on December 3 and the term refers to when the full moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth.

      This has the effect of making the moon appear 12 to 14 percent larger in the sky than the moon at other times.

      Supermoons are regular occurrences because of the moon's elliptical orbit around the Earth.

      Keep in mind that this term "supermoon" is not official—it was actually created by an astrologer, Richard Nolle, and not by an astronomer.

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