We'll experience another of the so-called "supermoon" events this weekend, marking a time when the moon's closest proximity to the earth nearly coincides with the moment when the moon reaches "full" status.
Astronomers actually call this a perigee full moon. Perigee is the term used for the point each month when the moon is closest to the earth.
The distance at perigee differs a bit from month to month, and the two celestial bodies will be closer than normal this time.
When the moon becomes full, at 7:32 a.m. Sunday in the eastern United States (well after daylight), it will be 221,824 miles from the earth.
What all this means, in effect, is the full moon up there in the sky Saturday and Sunday nights will be closer to the earth than usual. We're not talking about a lot of mileage. It's about 25 to 50 miles closer than many other months.
Of course, tides are a bit higher than normal at full moon, and that will happen this weekend.
Somehow, the term "supermoon" has become the popular term for the perigee full moon.
The biggest of these events comes Nov. 14, 2016, when the earth and moon will be 240 miles closer than they will be this weekend.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Another 'supermoon' this weekend
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11 comments:
You sort of gloss over or make light of the Supermoon, what with "so-called" and everything. But boy, I'll bet if it was gonna be rainy or stormy over the weekend you'd be all over the story. Probably the highlight of your weekend. I don't really know why you even bothered to write about this since it doesn't involve "weather". Phooey on you.
Cranky much? You need to get a life!
yikes. I appreciate the gravity of the situation here
Miserable, bitter trolls like yourself seem to always have something ugly to say. You really should talk with a therapist.
He is a therapist.
Ok...careful not to upset Steve's groupies.
"Cranky much?" = Poor, TV-inspired dolt slang.
"You need to get a life!" = Overused mob cliche.
Grade: D-
Yawn...
You think this article's a bit out of date now, seeing as how it's dated June 21? What a loser newspaper.
"Miserable, bitter trolls like yourself"
I'm entitled to my opinion. Don't like what I say? T.S. Don't read it, then.
Chad Barker = BMOC.
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