Association of Bangalore Amateur Astronomers

A Hype called Super Moon:

I am sure you have come across this Super Moon through print media, TV Channels, blogs, Face Book, Twitter or through friends. Today's Full moon will be the closest in 70 year and if you miss it now, you will have to wait until 2034 for next Super Moon. Moon in its orbit around earth come close to earth and this is called Perigee and moves farthest from earth called Apogee every month. Perigee can happen at any phase of the moon, it may be in Crescent, Half or gibbous phase. When Perigee and Full moon phase coincides, the name given is Super Moon.

What to Expect?

Looking at this picture of Moon can you tell if the Moon is bigger or smaller? 

You will agree just by looking at the picture its not possible, you will need reference, something to compare with or measure the size. This is the same thing that will happen when you go out tomorrow and look at the Moon. Lets for a moment see the numbers involved. This month perigee distance is close to 3,56,509 km and when we compare this with last perigee month's perigee in the month of October, distance which was close to 3,57,861 km the difference is just 1352 km. This when we convert it to angle subtended by moon in the sky and the difference from two perigee is 0.127 arc minutes. This as you can imagine is not possible to notice just by looking. You may need to photograph this full Moon and take photographs of upcoming full moons with the same settings and compare the difference.

This is also the implies to the brightness of the moon today. If we have not really observed the moon form some time it will not be evident to casual observer the difference in brightness in this light polluted conditions.

I would suggest that people should observe the moon not during full moon, but to observe in crescent to half moon and take guidance from local astronomy group. If you come to ABAA on any Sunday evening, you can learn about night sky and also when there is moon in the sky you can use our telescope and learn to observe moon and other celestial objects.

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