Rare full moon: 'Super Moon' spectacle will light up skies tonight, 2011-03-19
Read more on: Supermoon on Saturday full Moon of March 19th
Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies tonight - a full moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. The natural phenomenon happens when the full Moon coincides with when it travels closest to Earth on its orbit. 'The last full Moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1993,' said Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory in Washington DC. 'I'd say it's worth a look.'
Full Moons vary in size because of the elliptical (or oval) shape of the Moon's orbit. At its furthest point (the apogee) it is around 252,731miles away from us, but it is only around 226,426miles at its closest point (the perigee).
So nearby perigee moons, like the one we will see tonight, is around 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than lesser moons that occur on the apogee side of the moon's orbit.
However, it will be difficult to detect the change once the moon is high in the sky as the human eye is unble to put it in context without any nearby objects to compare it to.
Therefore the most impressive view of the moon will be seen when it is close to the horizon due to the 'moon illusion'. It appears larger as you will automatically compare it to the hills and houses nearby.
Professor Chester said: 'The full Moon of March 19th occurs less than one hour away from perigee - a near-perfect coincidence that happens only 18 years or so.'
Our natural satellite will be 'just' 221,567miles away tonight.
So nearby perigee moons, like the one we will see tonight, is around 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than lesser moons that occur on the apogee side of the moon's orbit.
However, it will be difficult to detect the change once the moon is high in the sky as the human eye is unble to put it in context without any nearby objects to compare it to.
Therefore the most impressive view of the moon will be seen when it is close to the horizon due to the 'moon illusion'. It appears larger as you will automatically compare it to the hills and houses nearby.
Professor Chester said: 'The full Moon of March 19th occurs less than one hour away from perigee - a near-perfect coincidence that happens only 18 years or so.'
Our natural satellite will be 'just' 221,567miles away tonight.
Magical moment: The best time to view the full moon is in early evening when you can compare it to Earth-bound features
The super moon will bring extra-high 'perigean tides' but this translates to only an inch or so higher sea-levels than usual. Local geography could boost this up to six inches.
Scientists say there is little fear of a perigee moon triggering a natural disaster - pointing to the 'super moon' from March 1983 that passed without incident.
Dr James Garvin, Chief Scientist at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center said: 'The Earth has stored a tremendous amount of internal energy within its thin outer shell or crust, and the small differences in the tidal forces exerted by the moon (and sun) are not enough to fundamentally overcome the much larger forces within the planet due to convection.'
There are numerous myths that claim full-moons cause an outbreak of strange behaviour among people and animals. Indeed the term lunacy is derived from the name of Luna, the Roman moon goddess.
Legends depicted werewolves shape-shifting during a full moon and more recently a full orb was said to trigger labour in pregnant women.
However, several studies have failed to tie lunar phases to violence, suicides, seizures or admissions to psychiatric hospitals.
Meanwhile a 1999 study by astronomer Daniel Caton from Appalachian State University , which analysed 50million births, found no correlation between an increased birth rate and the full moon phase.
So enjoy the full moon tonight safe in the knowledge it is unlikely to provoke any bizarre behaviour from your friends and family.
Scientists say there is little fear of a perigee moon triggering a natural disaster - pointing to the 'super moon' from March 1983 that passed without incident.
Dr James Garvin, Chief Scientist at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center said: 'The Earth has stored a tremendous amount of internal energy within its thin outer shell or crust, and the small differences in the tidal forces exerted by the moon (and sun) are not enough to fundamentally overcome the much larger forces within the planet due to convection.'
There are numerous myths that claim full-moons cause an outbreak of strange behaviour among people and animals. Indeed the term lunacy is derived from the name of Luna, the Roman moon goddess.
Legends depicted werewolves shape-shifting during a full moon and more recently a full orb was said to trigger labour in pregnant women.
However, several studies have failed to tie lunar phases to violence, suicides, seizures or admissions to psychiatric hospitals.
Meanwhile a 1999 study by astronomer Daniel Caton from Appalachian State University , which analysed 50million births, found no correlation between an increased birth rate and the full moon phase.
So enjoy the full moon tonight safe in the knowledge it is unlikely to provoke any bizarre behaviour from your friends and family.
