'Supermoon' Alert: Biggest Full Moon of 2012 Occurs This Week

[Dera]

Related Content

• Skywatcher Tim McCord of Entiat, …

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.

http://news.yahoo.com/supermoon-aler...180214325.html

[Dera]

I hope that sometime during the week, one of the Coast to Coast hosts will invite "JOB", James O. Berkland, to discuss this with us. As you and all IW members all know, Jim Berkland uses influences of the moon to predict earthquakes. Wonder what he thinks of this event? Looks to me like this will be up to Mr. Noory, or at the last minute, John B. Wells to bring Jim on the program.

[Dera]

I sent G. Noory an email today (5-1-12) asking him to put Jim Berkland on the air to discuss this.

[Dera]

Here I am again, trying to talk about the "supermoon" that we will have a chance to observe, weather conditions permitting, on this coming Saturday night, May 5. The weather forecast for Podunk is calling for it to be "mostly clear". How are chances of your seeing it in your neck of the woods? Do I hear any wagers regarding earthquakes?

Here is a kinda interesting video that explains it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvHQ1vV21i0

[pyrite]

we had clouds most the day...its breaking up so i might see the sky...the same weather pattern is for all week

[Alpha]

I sent G. Noory an email today (5-1-12) asking him to put Jim Berkland on the air to discuss this.

I'm glad you did this Dera

I just went outside and the moon is revving up for the event. Maybe send John B one too. It would be great to hear Berkland talk about this. So far there's nothing on the Coast site mentioning Berkland or the "super moon".

[Alpha]

This is from NASA...I still want to hear what Jim Berkland has to say

Quake Window? - Perigee 'Super Moon' On May 5-6 - Vid


Perigee "Super Moon" On May 5-6


May 2, 2012: The full Moon has a reputation for trouble. It raises high tides, it makes dogs howl, it wakes you up in the middle of the night with beams of moonlight stealing through drapes. If a moonbeam wakes you up on the night of May 5th, 2012, you might want to get out of bed and take a look. This May’s full Moon is a "super Moon,” as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full Moons of 2012.

The scientific term for the phenomenon is "perigee moon." Full Moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the Moon's orbit. The Moon follows an elliptical path around Earth with one side ("perigee") about 50,000 km closer than the other ("apogee"). Full Moons that occur on the perigee side of the Moon's orbit seem extra big and bright.
Such is the case on May 5th at 11:34 pm Eastern Daylight Time¹ when the Moon reaches perigee. Only one minute later, the Moon will line up with Earth and the sun to become brilliantly full. The timing is almost perfect.




Okay, the Moon is 14% bigger than usual, but can you really tell the difference? It's tricky. There are no rulers floating in the sky to measure lunar diameters. Hanging high overhead with no reference points to provide a sense of scale, one full Moon can seem much like any other.

The best time to look is when the Moon is near the horizon. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging Moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects. On May 5^th, this Moon illusion will amplify a full Moon that's extra-big to begin with. The swollen orb rising in the east at sunset should seem super indeed.



Perigee is the point in the Moon's elliptical orbit closest to Earth. Diagrams:#1, #2




Folklore holds that all kinds of wacky things happen under the light of a full Moon. Supposedly, hospital admissions increase, the crime rate ticks upward, and people behave strangely. The idea that the full Moon causes mental disorders was widespread in the Middle Ages. Even the word "lunacy," meaning "insanity," comes from the Latin word for "Moon."

The majority of modern studies, however, show no correlation between the phase of the Moon and the incidence of crime, sickness, or human behavior. The truth is, the Moon is less influential than folklore would have us believe.

It's true that a perigee full Moon brings with it extra-high "perigean tides," but according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this is nothing to worry about. In most places, lunar gravity at perigee pulls tide waters only a few centimeters (an inch or so) higher than usual. Local geography can amplify the effect to about 15 centimeters (six inches)--not exactly a great flood.
Super perigee Moons are actually fairly common. The Moon becomes full within a few hours of its closest approach to Earth about once a year on average. The last such coincidence occurred on March 19^th, 2011, producing a full Moon that was almost 400 km closer than this one. As usual, no trouble was reported--unless you count a midnight awakening as trouble.


If so, close the drapes on May 5th. Otherwise, enjoy the super-moonlight.

Author:Dr. Tony Phillips| Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

[pyrite]

"M-O-O-N.....that spells moon......".....God's Tom

[Judee]

Here I am again, trying to talk about the "supermoon" that we will have a chance to observe, weather conditions permitting, on this coming Saturday night, May 5. The weather forecast for Podunk is calling for it to be "mostly clear". How are chances of your seeing it in your neck of the woods? Do I hear any wagers regarding earthquakes?

Here is a kinda interesting video that explains it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvHQ1vV21i0

I'll take that bet about a good sized quake or two Dera!

[maryals]

I remember the last Super Moon...it was amazing!

Mary and Baby

[maryals]

"M-O-O-N.....that spells moon......".....God's Tom

Never read the book, but the Mini Series made for TV was awesome!

Mary and Baby

[Alpha]

I hope we all get a clear night

[Dark Skies]

The moon looked pretty good here last night, even through the light cloud cover.