BIGGEST FULL MOON OF 2012 OCCURS THIS WEEK


This month's full moon coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth.


THE GIST
  • This Saturday, the moon will come within 221,802 miles from Earth.
  • This month's full moon is due to be about 16 percent brighter than average.
super moon
enlarge
Skywatcher Tim McCord of Entiat, Washington caught this amazing view of the March 19, 2011 full moon - called a supermoon because the moon was at perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit - using a camera-equipped telescope. Click to enlarge this image. 
Tim McCord
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.
Editor's note: If you'd like to share your supermoon photos for a possible story or gallery, send images and comments to SPACE.com managing editor Tariq Malik: tmalik@space.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Hi Eroo !! Whats your Views on this ?

Popular posts from this blog

Kenya: Kwale Titanium Mine was to be launched in 2013

Australian diversified junior miner, Base Resources Ltd.'s titanium unit in Kenya aims to start mining in 2013, ending years of uncertainty over the project, a company official said on Monday. Joe Schwarz, the general manager of Base Titanium, said in a telephone interview he expected the ongoing feasibility study at the project to be concluded by early 2011, and an estimated $200 million to be raised next year to kickstart the mine. The project on Kenya's sweltering Indian Ocean coast has been held up for years by delays including demonstrations by environmental groups, disputes with local farmers over compensation for land and drawn out talks with the government. Schwarz said so far Base Titanium had yet to sign agreements with buyers of its minerals, but said the exports would likely be destined to China, U.S. and Europe.  "Once we have the green light on the final investment decision, building the plant will take 18-21 months and we would be able to start pro
Read more

“Who Killed Dr.J.Robert Ouko.” Why Kisumu Molasses Project Report.

Image
The Honorable Minister Dr.   John Robert Ouko   (31 March 1931–c. 13 February 1990), commonly known as   Robert Ouko , was a   Kenyan   politician   who served as   Minister of Kenya from 1979 to 1983 and from 1988 to 1990. Robert Ouko served in the government of Kenya from the   colonial   period through the presidencies of   Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi. He was a member of the   National Assembly   for  Kisumu and a   cabinet   minister, rising to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation by 1990. He was   murdered   in Kenya on February 13, 1990. The murder case, perhaps the most intriguing in Kenyan history, remains unsolved. A report presented in parliament in 2010 states that the murder was carried out in one of then President Daniel arap Moi's official residences. It also called for further investigations into top officials, including one of Moi's closest allies,   Nicholas Biwott , who denies responsibility. In late Dece
Read more

10 Interesting Ways to Make Money Online

Image
If you’d claimed it was possible for the average guy on the street to make millions of dollars online just a decade ago, the chances are good you’d have heard nothing but laughter in response. Today, though, there are countless Internet millionaires who turned a great idea into obscene profit, used the power of the web to promote their offline business or simply worked their butt off to sell their skills online.   While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever earn enough to  buy your own private island , there’s nothing to stop you from using your skills to make a comfortable living online. In fact, while the media would have you believe that online success stories are limited to just a few lucky, hard working people who stumbled on a great idea that went on to make millions, the reality is that there are tens of thousands of people who make a living exclusively online. Here are just ten ways you can join them. How To Make Money Online 1. Sell Stock Photography The Internet has caused an exp
Read more