On Friday evening and early Saturday morning this past week, New Yorkers were treated to a larger-than-life moon, or “supermoon.” Photo by Mike Tschappat

High Line Photographer
Mike Tschappat captured this striking photo of a “supermoon” last Friday, while perched on the High Line with his long lens and tripod. A supermoon is exactly what it sounds like: a larger-than-life appearance of a full moon. This celestial event – which has the unfortunate and un-catchy scientific designation of “perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system” – happens when a full moon coincides with the moment in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to the earth. This results in a noticeably larger-than-normal appearance of the moon in the night’s sky. Happily, we have two more supermoons to look forward to this summer – one on August 10 and another on September 9.

Obviously, there is so much to see on the High Line – plants, people, art, architecture, programs, and more. But the High Line also acts as a platform for looking out into the city – and the sky – and that rings even more true during the
nighttime hours. The lights of buildings flicker on and the cityscape becomes a glowing patchwork. Cars’ headlights and taillights stream by, pausing here and there at stoplights. And, if you’re lucky, you may see an appearance from the moon and brighter planets. Catch one of our Tuesday-night Stargazing events to peer more deeply into the night sky through the high-powered telescopes of the Amateur Astronomer’s Association.

Need more reasons to visit the High Line at night? Scroll down to see more of Mike’s photos from the evening of the supermoon.

Visitors relax on the High Line at 23rd Street. Photo by Mike Tschappat

A pair of eyes on a neighboring billboard seem to watch over the High Line. Photo by Mike Tschappat

A visitor snaps a shot of the supermoon. Photo by Mike Tschappat

See even more of Mike’s photos in his Flickr Photostream.