Supermoon brings super tidal bore to Moncton's Petitcodiac River

CTV Atlantic: Supermoon brings super tidal bore to Sunday’s supermoon has created a super tidal bore on the Petitcodiac River, and surfers have been taking full advantage of the waves in Monc

Sunday evening’s supermoon has created a super tidal bore on Moncton’s Petitcodiac River, thrilling both surfers and skywatchers.

“A supermoon happens when the point at which it is closest to the earth in its orbit, coincides with a full moon,” says Catherine Lovekin, an astronomy professor at Mount Allison University.

And with the supermoon came a super tidal bore, which rushed into Moncton just before 11 a.m. Monday.

“I experienced the tidal bore coming up with great gusto. It was beautiful, yes,” says spectator Harold Wilson.

“I thought it was more spectacular than I thought it would be,” says Cait Roberts.

Daniel LeBlanc was one of many surfers taking advantage of the spectacular tidal bore on Monday.

“It was one of the strongest we have seen this year, so it was easy to ride and it was fun,” says LeBlanc.

Lovekin says a supermoon is brighter than a regular moon, but is not much larger, although it appears to be so. She describes it as looking at a 16.1-inch pizza, rather than a 16-inch pizza.

“If you look at the moon when it is close to the horizon, full moon, anytime, it does not have to be a supermoon. It will look much bigger than when it is high in the sky, and that is just an optical illusion.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell