-Vintage Canuck- Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 'Supermoon' Alert: Biggest Full Moon of 2012 Occurs This Week: Skywatchers take note: The biggest full moon of the year is due to arrive this weekend. The moon will officially become full Saturday (May 5) at 11:35 p.m. EDT. And because this month's full moon coincides with the moon's perigee — its closest approach to Earth — it will also be the year's biggest. The moon will swing in 221,802 miles (356,955 kilometers) from our planet, offering skywatchers a spectacular view of an extra-big, extra-bright moon, nicknamed a supermoon. And not only does the moon's perigee coincide with full moon this month, but this perigee will be the nearest to Earth of any this year, as the distance of the moon's close approach varies by about 3 percent, according to meteorologist Joe Rao, SPACE.com's skywatching columnist. This happens because the moon's orbit is not perfectly circular. This month's full moon is due to be about 16 percent brighter than average. In contrast, later this year on Nov. 28, the full moon will coincide with apogee, the moon's farthest approach, offering a particularly small and dim full moon. Though the unusual appearance of this month's full moon may be surprising to some, there's no reason for alarm, scientists warn. The slight distance difference isn't enough to cause any earthquakes or extreme tidal effects, experts say. However, the normal tides around the world will be particularly high and low. At perigee, the moon will exert about 42 percent more tidal force than it will during its next apogee two weeks later, Rao said. The last supermoon occurred in March 2011. To view this weekend's supermoon to best effect, look for it just after it rises or before it sets, when it is close to the horizon. There, you can catch a view of the moon behind buildings or trees, an effect which produces an optical illusion, making the moon seem even larger than it really is. http://news.yahoo.co...-180214325.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blame Obama Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 cool! cant wait to blaze and gaze Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted May 6, 2012 Author Share Posted May 6, 2012 Photos: Shots of the supermoon from around the world http://usat.ly/J5WkUc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brahma Bull Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 356,955 kilometer, eh? Pretty cool when you have an old car with about that many km's on it. Kinda cool when you can say 'I've travelled enough km's in a car that could get me to the moon'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 That's one biiiiiggggg moon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyville88 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Nights like this I wish I had an SLR Hard to see the moon where I am though (n.bby). Too many trees and clouds getting in the way. From what I can see it looks huge though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BM24 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 It's humangous big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blömqvist Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I don't see the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Hmm... doesn't look any bigger where I am but it is a lot brighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish⑦Canuck Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I thought the moon looked pretty big the other night. Cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted May 6, 2012 Author Share Posted May 6, 2012 When I saw it last night, it wasn't really that big but it sure was bright! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobble Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 I've seen bigger moons. Was pretty disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugar baby watermelon Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I was able to grab a couple of great pics. But unfortunately I can't post here for some odd reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kumquats Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I was able to grab a couple of great pics. But unfortunately I can't post here for some odd reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUPERTKBD Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I was totally expecting a pic of Rosanne Barr dropping her drawers.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift-4 Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I was totally expecting a pic of Rosanne Barr dropping he drawers.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GodzillaDeuce Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 It's humangous big. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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