There's been a bit of hype about the 'Supermoon' this weekend - I've seen so many images and posts on social media about it.
I know posting it here is not really necessary as most of us will know this, but there's always some who will discover it for the first time.
A so-called Supermoon is when the Full Moon coincides with Perigee - where the Moon is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit.
It's not that rare - it happens once every year, and it's not that much bigger or brighter (about 14% bigger than when it's at its furthest away). It's probably not really noticeable to the regular person looking up at the Moon.
However, if the hype manages to get people outside looking up at the Moon - then that's a great outcome. I just hope they're not disappointed that it doesn't take up half the sky, as depicted in some of the mockup images I've seen
This Moon photo was taken just before the December 2011 Total Lunar Eclipse. It's used here for no particular reason except I needed a full-moon photo to go with the story
Ya for the note, Mike. I actually wasn't aware of the SUPERMOON for the weekend. But I'm very glad that your VERY measured post won't add to the hyperbole, particularly with that large, crisp image of the Moon. Let's see, how would the tabloid papers quote your post (first & last paragraph's in case it's not clear to us analytical types) Hmmm, let's see:
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As Mike points out it happens every year. But big Moon's occur throughout the year at constantly shifting phases. This slow phase shift is due to the approx 2.2 day difference between the Moon's siderial (27.3d) and synodic (29.5) months. The minimum lunar distance beats over the year, maximum less so. So after 6 orbits, the phase shifts by 2.2d x 6 = 13.2 days and occurs close to new moon where it's not nearly as widely covered by the media.
The media are clutching at anything to report, so expect a hypegasm. Even Mal Meninga's ramblings warranted a whole 30 minutes this morning, that's how slow things are.
Someone should hype it up for all its worth... hmm... got a black cape with a red silk lining, dinner suit and some fangs ?
probably no moon for us this weekend Mike with another ruddy east coast low supposedly forming, its getting to the stage we might be better off moving to SA or WA
I was out looking at it tonight, as it was reasonably clear here. I hate full moons as its like the flood lights at a stadium, can't see much else even with a light shield.
There's a certain graphic that's gone viral on facebook; it's very misleading and along with Mike I've been trying to bring some realism about it on the IIS fb page.
In the link just below is the graphic mentioned above and a great article.
Note the graphic says at the end, "it also presents the moon's closest encounter with earth in a long time."
And check out the size of that moon in the graphic . I fear a person who's never seen this before may get quite disappointed and put them off astronomy. Last year when the Super Moon came around, my niece who's not all that into astronomy contacted me all excited as to what to expect. Yes, the publicity is a great thing as it gets people to look up. But let's get real.
It's a wonderful event I'm not denying that and it looks amazing on the horizon (I really have a hard time spotting the difference when it climbs higher in the sky tho). It's just the over the top hype I find misleading. Btw the term "Super Moon" actually stemmed from astrology. Still.. catchy name for this event I guess.
Chris, I just had a look at Ozscopes fb page- and that graphic isn't that much different to the one I'm talking about. At least the words are accurate though, I guess that's something. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater
Anyway.. bring on Sunday and the full moon at perigee aka "Super Moon"- I can't wait!
ignored astrology rubbish from 30 years ago is now science!
talk to a "professional" astrologer or two and theres more than a hint of a nice little earner skating around the edges of this stuff that's
really the bigger problem with embracing this bunkum even in a small way imho.
"Super Moon" this weekend - June 23
