BajaNomad - Sky Show Tonight: Biggest, Brightest Full Moon of 2008

Sky Show Tonight: Biggest, Brightest Full Moon of 2008

Bajaboy - 12-12-2008 at 02:09 PM

Get out and enjoy it!

Zac

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/12/081212-full-...

Sky Show Tonight: Biggest, Brightest Full Moon of 2008
Andrew Fazekas
for National Geographic News
Updated December 12, 2008

Don't expect to spot an Apollo lunar lander. But tonight, weather permitting, sky-watchers around the world will see the biggest and brightest full moon of 2008.

Although a full moon happens every month, the one that rises tomorrow will appear about 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than the other full moons seen so far this year.

That's because our cosmic neighbor will be much closer than usual. The moon will be at its closest perigee—the nearest it gets to Earth during its egg-shaped orbit around our planet.

At its farthest from Earth, the moon is said to be at apogee. (Find out more about tonight's perigee and watch a moon-facts video in National Geographic News's space blog, Breaking Orbit.)

Perigee and apogee each happen generally once a month, but the moon's wobbly orbit means that its exact distance at each of those events varies over the year.

The moon's phase can also be different during each apogee and perigee.

"Typically we don't have the full moon phase and perigee coinciding at the same time, so that makes this event particularly special," said Ed Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California.

What's more, tomorrow's event will be the closest lunar perigee since 1993, at 221,560 miles (356,566 kilometers) from Earth.

The moon's farthest apogee for the year will occur a couple weeks later on December 26, when the natural satellite will be 252,650 miles (406,601 kilometers) from Earth.

Highest Tide

Because this unusually close perigee is happening during a full moon, it is expected to have an effect on Earth's tides. (Get more moon facts.)

"While high tides happen each month when the sun, Earth, and the moon are aligned, there is going to be an enhanced effect, with the moon being the closest it's been in more than a decade," said Ben Burress, staff astronomer at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, California.

"This would result in extra-large tides in regions that are susceptible to them, like Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy." (See map.)

Features in the Bay of Fundy create a sloshing wave action that, in the bay's funneled and tapered basin, give rise to vast tidal ranges.

But even in such places, the effects of perigee are often modest, in most cases measurable in inches. But perigee tides can be higher if there happens to be a storm surge at the same time.

Observing the effects of perigee on the moon itself can be a bit trickier. Most casual observers may only notice a difference in the moon's brightness, Burress said.

The moon's apparent larger size might be most noticeable as it rises above the horizon at sunset.

That's when an optical illusion usually comes into play that makes the full moon seem larger—set against familiar Earthly objects—than when it's higher in the empty sky.

"This combination of the moon illusion and close perigee gives sky-watchers a chance to see the biggest and fullest moonrise possible," Burress said.

What makes this event particularly nice, the Griffith Observatory's Krupp added, is that everyone around the world can witness it without the need for special equipment, just clear skies.

"If you are charmed by the idea of seeing the biggest and brightest full moon visible in 15 years, be ready to go outside at sunset and watch for the rising moon in the east," he said.

"Or stay up all night and watch as the moon rides through the overhead skies—either way it will be a beautiful sight."

© 1996-2008 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.

k-rico - 12-12-2008 at 03:54 PM

Last night's moon rise was awesome, it's huge! Tonight's should be better. Watch it creep up over the horizon. I'll leave the time and direction to look up to you.

When the moon hits the sky ....

Skipjack Joe - 12-12-2008 at 08:59 PM

you know the rest.

Dean_Martin.jpg - 18kB

805gregg - 12-12-2008 at 09:02 PM

Shoot, it's been over cast here, thanks for the info, I wondered why my cat keep going out earlier each night. I hope it's clear tonight.

Paulina - 12-12-2008 at 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
you know the rest.

Good one, and my most favorite; Fly me to the moon and let me dance among the stars...let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars...

It's beautiful here in Los Osos, and was a sight to see on the Bahia weather link as well.

P<*)))>{

ckiefer - 12-13-2008 at 12:14 AM

Last night around midnight the moon had a HUGE ring around it. First time I have ever seen this.....it was beautiful!

2-tie-dye-4 - 12-13-2008 at 12:38 AM

Yup, here in Jerome, as well, an ice crystal ring around it as it peers around the mountain. Snow's on the way here by sunup. A "doozy" predicted. Asuncion is looking mighty fine right now.

2-tie-dye-4 - 12-13-2008 at 12:39 AM

Skipjack,
Most excellent!!!!

Russ - 12-13-2008 at 05:19 AM

Clouds, Clouds, Clouds, Clouds everywhere Clouds! No Pics
Can you name that tune in four note or less?

jorgie - 12-13-2008 at 06:59 AM

" like a bigg-a piece a pie , that's ........"
The nearness and the moon illusion are something , great stuff and real wonderment......we really are not alone

shari - 12-13-2008 at 08:35 AM

Gotta love Nomad....thanks for that Zac....Juan will pull the panga up extra high today to accomodate the super high tide...good thing there isn't alot of swell.
The moon entertained us at last night tuna party at the campground...Barbareno and Timo put on a great fiesta...outstanding food as usual, sashimi, lobster salad, thick gringo steaks by Surfdoc, baked cabrilla...dancing in the moonlight.....ahhhhhh bajjjjjjja.
I've looked at clouds from both sides now.

Bob H - 12-13-2008 at 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jorgie
" like a bigg-a piece a pie , that's ........"
The nearness and the moon illusion are something , great stuff and real wonderment......we really are not alone

I always thought it was "like a big-a-pizza pie, that's amore..." Dean Martin!
Bob H

Udo - 12-13-2008 at 09:03 AM

No moon tonight here in Running Springs, SNOW! Finally.

ckiefer - 12-13-2008 at 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by udowinkler
No moon tonight here in Running Springs, SNOW! Finally.

We have a little place in Fawnskin....snow there too?

Bajaboy - 12-13-2008 at 11:13 AM

sounds like a grand time...we stayed in doors enjoying chicken soup with dumplings....and did enjoy the moon shining into our bedroom as we drifted to sleep.

zac

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
Gotta love Nomad....thanks for that Zac....Juan will pull the panga up extra high today to accomodate the super high tide...good thing there isn't alot of swell.
The moon entertained us at last night tuna party at the campground...Barbareno and Timo put on a great fiesta...outstanding food as usual, sashimi, lobster salad, thick gringo steaks by Surfdoc, baked cabrilla...dancing in the moonlight.....ahhhhhh bajjjjjjja.
I've looked at clouds from both sides now.

boe4fun - 12-13-2008 at 12:34 PM

When an eel bites your toe and he won't let it go - that's a moray!!

bajalera - 12-13-2008 at 04:13 PM

Thanks for all that interesting info, BBoy. Now, if only the clouds will go away . . . . .

vandenberg - 12-13-2008 at 09:38 PM

Lera, there you go.
A wunderphoto.

moon.jpg - 47kB

astrobaja - 12-13-2008 at 10:17 PM

I'm seeing the moon rise over the sierra right now, a very beautiful sight to be sure! BUT being able to notice a difference in angular size from a perigee moon and an apogee moon is pretty difficult to do! You're much more likely to notice the difference in tidal activity! The most likely time to see some sort of size difference is when it rises in relation to the horizon and you have something to guage the differential against.

Ckiefer: I saw the ring last night too! Very cool, probably due to high cirrus ice crystals refracting light. Most times here in Baja there is very little high water vapour to create such an effect! Saw it quite a bit back in ontario Canada!

ckiefer - 12-13-2008 at 11:47 PM

I'm so glad someone else saw it too. It was huge and amazing!!! Right above the patio off the bedroom, as if it was there just for me.....

cloudy

mulege marv - 12-14-2008 at 02:16 PM

i couldnt get a picture of the moon at its brightest because it was overcast in mulege (bummer) but i did get one the next night.

DSC_0496.JPG - 42kB

oops

mulege marv - 12-14-2008 at 02:17 PM

i need to get this resizing thing down a little better i guess

DianaT - 12-14-2008 at 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulege marv
i need to get this resizing thing down a little better i guess

It is magnificent just like it is. :yes:

Diane

resizing

mulege marv - 12-14-2008 at 03:01 PM

i have a real problem with taking a good photo and getting it down to 50K and still have it worth viewing, but must be just me, ken's pics always look great as do russ', so it must be just me. :lol:

[Edited on 12-14-2008 by mulege marv]

windgrrl - 12-14-2008 at 03:06 PM

Thanks fo the photo!

Beautiful moonrise from the northeast last Thursday with moon dog-like ring and frosty spires extending out of the top and bottom.

Greetings to all in the south from the frozen north,
w

toneart - 12-14-2008 at 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulege marv
i have a real problem with taking a good photo and getting it down to 50K and still have it worth viewing, but must be just me, ken's pics always look great as do russ', so it must be just me. :lol:

[Edited on 12-14-2008 by mulege marv]

Marv,
When I click on the properties of your photo, it says it is 41.83 kb. That is below 50 kb. It is a beautiful photo of a beautiful moon!

Thank you, because we missed it up here in No. California. It was overcast. By the way, today it has been snowing steadily since about 10 AM. It is supposed to snow all week. I am headed for Baja around New Years. I wish this snow had held off until after I leave. Oh well, it is very pretty.

yes

mulege marv - 12-14-2008 at 03:25 PM

its under 50k or it wouldnt be there, if the photo is 50.01k it wont post it . it was the dementions i was refering to (pixels)also you cant post more than once every 50 seconds, next on my list, how to do a multiple pic post, cant seem to do that either. :lol:

[Edited on 12-14-2008 by mulege marv]

DianaT - 12-14-2008 at 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mulege marv
its under 50k or it wouldnt be there, if the photo is 50.01k it wont post it . and you cant post more than once every 50 seconds, next on my list, how to do a multiple pic post, cant seem to do that either.

For me, the easiest way to do a multiple pic post is by using photobucket-- and if it is over 50K, no problem.

I resize for width, upload to Photobucket, keep photobuket open and start your thread.

Type then copy the img code from photobucket and paste into Baja Nomad thread. Type some more, then copy and paste.

Love seeing your photos---more the better!

Diane

DianaT - 12-14-2008 at 03:31 PM

Quote:

Wingnut - 12-15-2008 at 12:52 PM

Mulege Marv, yup, that photo is just what it looked like here in Phoenix the other night. Glad to see you got a picture. I have to get a new camera for my upcoming trip. Maybe I will get to take one like that soon. Great pix.

flyfishinPam - 12-15-2008 at 12:59 PM

07:00h the following morning at Loreto

thanx

mulege marv - 12-16-2008 at 06:28 PM

i think i am finally getting he hang of this NEW NIKON D80