Does anyone really care about the supermoon?

[Stonius (Markus)]

It'll look the same as before, just 14% bigger.

Are there really any very tiny features that are made resolvable by this modest increase in size?

Personally I think the biggest effect will be the increase in the probability of earthquakes.

Markus

[ralph1]

One of the big problems with it is that it's full, so you can't see as many details anyway. The moon often looks better around first and last quarters, when the shadows show objects more dramatically.

Ralph

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

I think we should see this as an opportunity to explain something about the night sky to people who only know bout what is reported in the paper. My only concern is that media reports make it sound like an amazing sight whereas it is interesting, rather than spectacular.
I have had people ask me about it and I explain to them what it is all about, most would have no idea that the moon will vary in size from month to month. I have also taken the opportunity to make a basic explanation of how the view of the night changes through the year.

Malcolm

[dannat (Daniel)]

i agree with malcolm -there was a sic article on FB last month, had thousands of likes & 2k comments -i prob told too many truths, gave people some factual numbers, saying super moon prob isn't the right term as people were getting carried away [lambasted the sic webiste/publication in the course of it]
-i ended up getting slammed by many for being debby downer - no fun at parties etc, i just didn't want people to not have some perspective

[Stonius (Markus)]

Most people are suprised to find out that the moon spends 50% of its time in the daylit hours.

[bojan]

Super Moon = Super light pollution = Super bad for deep sky objects

[glend (Glen)]

Originally Posted by bojan

Super Moon = Super light pollution = Super bad for deep sky objects

Agree 100%. The Moon is a pain in the ***. I'd be happy without it at all. Yes I know there would be some pretty major consequences and we can't just cut it loose.

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

This.

Originally Posted by ralph1

One of the big problems with it is that it's full, so you can't see as many details anyway. The moon often looks better around first and last quarters, when the shadows show objects more dramatically.

Ralph

Astronomically it's pretty useless. At first and last quarter, the moon isn't at it's closest 'supermoon' distance, so I doubt you'll see any extra detail.

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

Originally Posted by Stonius

Most people are suprised to find out that the moon spends 50% of its time in the daylit hours.

I actually had a bet with someone about this once. It's amazing the number of people who refuse to believe that you can see the moon during the day.

[deanm (Dean)]

"Most people are suprised to find out that the moon spends 50% of its time in the daylit hours."

Surely the moon (like the earth) spends 100% of its time in daylight (i.e. the sun is always shining [except during eclipses]).
Both bodies are revolving (24 hrs us, 28 days lunans), so only spend 50% of any local time in daylight.
Dean
(Pedant selector to "OFF"!)

[JA]

Originally Posted by deanm

(Pedant selector to "OFF"!)

I like it

Best
JA

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by Stonius

Most people are suprised to find out that the moon spends 50% of its time in the daylit hours.

I was surprised when my intelligent step son objected to me stating that you can see the moon during the day. Refused to believe it until I explained it to him.

Malcolm

[Stonius (Markus)]

Originally Posted by deanm

"Most people are suprised to find out that the moon spends 50% of its time in the daylit hours."

Surely the moon (like the earth) spends 100% of its time in daylight (i.e. the sun is always shining [except during eclipses]).
Both bodies are revolving (24 hrs us, 28 days lunans), so only spend 50% of any local time in daylight.
Dean
(Pedant selector to "OFF"!)

Okay, yes, you got me. 100% of it's time in daylight. Locally visible 50% during the day, 50% during the night. :-)

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

I was surprised when my intelligent step son objected to me stating that you can see the moon during the day. Refused to believe it until I explained it to him.

Malcolm

Go outside 5 days after/before the new moon and point it out to him.

[bojan]

you can't see info on Moon visibility on FB or Twitter or Instagram or Whatever...
Movie "Idiocracy" is constantly coming to my mind.

[erick (Eric)]

Errrrr, no. But it does give me the opportunity to discuss matters astronomical with those who read it somewhere and want to tell me all about it

[Sol-Skysailor (Sol)]

Hello, Yes, I care a great deal.

It is a celestial object with it’s own undiminished wonders, of varying phases and proximity just like of some planets, but with features we can see and some did touch.

Friends and I watched a supermoon rising from behind the waters off the Qld coast and it was large, extra orange gold, and a beautiful sight to us. To observers who see them quite rightly as somewhat special, let us not diminish their impression and appreciation which would be like saying to people back from a holiday: oh that’s nothing, I’ve been there, I’ve seen bigger and better, I‘m cleverer…

This illustration http://earthsky.org/?p=190918 is interesting, I think. If ‘only’ 14% bigger (in what?? diameter? 30% in area? compared to when? -apparently to when it’s furthest; even these are points for discussion), it is not necessarily insignificant. Even if something is or is not, what each sees, or is interested to see, is in the eye of the beholder to be respected. I think people’s *interest* in the universe is significant.

Interested enquirer: Supermoon! Can we view it here? Is there a viewing session?
Experienced persons: There’s nothing to see… It’s… it’s only… What people don’t realise…

Have we not killed that interest and enthusiasm? Some enquirers already know the facts too but are keen to observe, and to experience things for themselves.

While joining in with others’ appreciation, as Malcolm and Eric and maybe others said and I agree it presents an opportunity to converse, two-ways, with any interested persons about some noteworthy information and ideas. To me, no such natural light is ever a light pollution (unless it fries us). It’s up to us to think up how best to treasure it. And if we carry some name of ‘- - astronomer’ or related, in my opinion we also carry the duty of care, for others we influence, support and occasionally inspire.


Cheers and to Supermoon
Sol

[75BC (Brendon)]

I totally agree Sol.

It’s an astronomical event that anyone who can look outside with at least one working eye can enjoy. No fancy (expensive) equipment required.

An event like this can be the start of someone’s lifelong love of astronomy.

And let’s not forget that a lot to do with astronomy is about the numbers as opposed to what you can and can’t see. You know, so many millions of light years away and such. This will be the closest the moon has been since 1948. I don’t find that insignificant.

I find the moon beautiful regardless of phase and a supermoon rising above the horizon especially so.

[Rob_K]

Originally Posted by Sol-Skysailor

Friends and I watched a supermoon rising from behind the waters off the Qld coast and it was large, extra orange gold, and a beautiful sight to us.

That's another thing with the "Supermoon", what casual observers report is overwhelmingly the Moon-illusion. The Moon can appear huge as it rises and the illusion can be visible at any Full Moon (or even outside Full Moon if it comes to that). Try explaining that to true Supermoon believers though....

Cheers -

[astro_nutt]

I'm hoping to capture some images of the Moonrise as it creeps above the horizon. Especially if the Eastern sky has a hint of colour from the Earths shadow.