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Supermoon This Weekend!
http://www.universetoday.com ^ | 02 MAY 2012 | by Nancy Atkinson

Posted on 05/03/2012 11:22:05 AM PDT by Red Badger

This weekend will provide the full Moon’s closest approach of the year to Earth. On Saturday, May 5, 2012 the Moon could appear as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full Moons of 2012, according to some calculations. Will you notice it? Not if you haven’t really been paying attention, or have a reference point to compare it to other full Moons. And it certainly won’t have any adverse effects on Earth, as this closest approach happens every year — just a fact of orbital mechanics. But perhaps a great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is to spend the evening gazing at the Moon!

Every month, as the Moon circles the Earth in its elongated orbit, its distance from the Earth varies. This weekend, the Moon is reaching what’s known as its perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit. It will be about 356,953 kilometers (221,802 miles) from Earth on Saturday. Apogee — when the Moon is farthest away — varies, but is around 405,000 km (252,000 miles) away.

What is most interesting is that the timing of the perigee and full Moon is really, really close: The full moon occurs at 03:34 UTC on May 6 (11:34 p.m. EDT on May 5 )eastern and perigee follows at 03:35 UTC (11:35 p.m. EDT)

David Morrison, from NASA says “supermoon” is not an astronomical term and he confirms a supermoon has no effect on Earth, and that the change in size is hardly noticeable to the average person. If you miss it, the Moon will be very nearly as close at the next full Moon, and very nearly as close as it was at the last full Moon.

But even better is that two weeks after the “supermoon” on May 5th, the Moon will be at apogee as it lines up in front of the Sun for an amazing annular eclipse on May 20th. An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the outline of the Moon.

If you’re a photographer, take a picture of the Moon and send it to us. If we get a some good images, we’ll share them. Join our Flickr group, or send us your images by email (this means you’re giving us permission to post them). Please explain a little about it such as when you took it, the equipment you used, etc.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: earth; moon; sourcetitlenoturl; space; werewolves
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A 'side by side' comparison of 4 different shots taken over the period of 30 hours before the March 19, 2011 'SuperMoon'. It shows the progression of Moon in its orbit until the closest point. Credit: Ramiz Qureshi, from Karachi, Pakistan.

1 posted on 05/03/2012 11:22:17 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

That would be “apparent” size, one assumes.


2 posted on 05/03/2012 11:24:42 AM PDT by Elsiejay
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To: Elsiejay

Yes, the Moon will be Full and at its closest approach to the Earth at the same time.............


3 posted on 05/03/2012 11:25:57 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
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To: Red Badger

I am a lifelong moon and stargazer. You’ve not lived until you’ve sat in the shade of a swaying willow tree, watching the moon through the whispering branches, as you swig a fine imported beer or two.

And I do mean shade... Even the half moon casts enough light to read comfortably by.

Ahhh, heaven.


4 posted on 05/03/2012 11:26:31 AM PDT by Doctor 2Brains (If the government were Paris Hilton, it could not score a free drink in a bar full of lonely sailors)
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To: Doctor 2Brains

Well, I’ve done that.......but I wasn’t looking at a moon.....in the sky, anyway..............


5 posted on 05/03/2012 11:28:16 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
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To: Red Badger
"And it certainly won’t have any adverse effects on Earth..."

Like the last Supermoon?


6 posted on 05/03/2012 11:29:06 AM PDT by Errant
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To: Red Badger
Should make for some really good tidal action for Saturday's fishing trip. ...speckled trout & redfish.
7 posted on 05/03/2012 11:31:37 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Red Badger

>>Not if you haven’t really been paying attention,<<

Or don’t work in a Psych ward.


8 posted on 05/03/2012 11:34:27 AM PDT by netmilsmom (I am Breitbart)
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To: TexasCajun

Larger the tide, the larger the fish.............


9 posted on 05/03/2012 11:36:54 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
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To: netmilsmom

....or a patrol cop........


10 posted on 05/03/2012 11:37:51 AM PDT by Red Badger (Think logically. Act normally.................)
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To: TexasCajun
Self Ping: (Galveston Bay - Clear Lake)
11 posted on 05/03/2012 11:40:38 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Red Badger

Exactly.


12 posted on 05/03/2012 11:40:41 AM PDT by netmilsmom (I am Breitbart)
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To: Red Badger

By the title I figured this story was about Rosie O’Donnell or Rosie Barr. ;-)


13 posted on 05/03/2012 11:41:52 AM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Red Badger

Damn and it’s suppose to be cloudy and raining tomorrow here in New Yawk.


14 posted on 05/03/2012 11:46:34 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (Some day our schools will teach the difference between "lose" and "loose")
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To: Red Badger

Geez, and all we’re going to get is rain, rain and more rain. Be lucky if we see it.


15 posted on 05/03/2012 11:56:26 AM PDT by Thorliveshere
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

This supermoon is scheduled for May 5, not tomorrow.


16 posted on 05/03/2012 11:57:40 AM PDT by matthew fuller (Mitt Romney is the supreme exemplification of the word SMARMY.)
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To: Red Badger

“Yes, the Moon will be Full and at its closest approach to the Earth at the same time.............”

(Taking a page out of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds”)

....The perfect time for the Moonsters to invade us...


17 posted on 05/03/2012 12:03:28 PM PDT by Levante
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To: Red Badger

Kool


18 posted on 05/03/2012 12:04:38 PM PDT by b4its2late (Patience is not a virtue, it is a waste of time.)
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To: Doctor 2Brains

“You’ve not lived until you’ve sat in the shade of a swaying willow tree, watching the moon through the whispering branches, as you swig a fine imported beer or two.”

Wow, sounds awesome.

About a year ago, I experienced something very similar (sans the beer)....

And believe it or not, it was in a flat field, lined with trees, about 5km from Dachau, Germany....


19 posted on 05/03/2012 12:06:21 PM PDT by Levante
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To: Red Badger
On Saturday, May 5, 2012 the Moon could appear as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full Moons of 2012

Interesting use of plurals because it makes it look like the moon looks small the rest of the year. This full moon will only be 0.3% larger and 0.6% brighter than June's. This full moon will be 7.4% larger and 15.4% brighter than average.

You can get up to 13.6% bigger apparent diameter and 29.2% brighter by comparing this full moon to the absolute furthest distance from the earth of 406,700 km. That doesn't take into account having a brighter full moon when the earth and moon are closer to the sun in January.

20 posted on 05/03/2012 12:15:10 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (You only have three billion heartbeats in a lifetime.How many does the government claim as its own?)
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