Photographed 10:22 PM
Saturday, March 19, 2011
If no clouds (a stargazer's nightmare in Central New York) get in the way, the moon will appear about 10 to 15 percent larger than normal.
The best time to view the moon will be at sunset. According to the Astronomical Society of Palm Beaches, the best way to view this super moon will be by the naked eye, not a telescope. The lunar surface will be too bright to easily discern mountains and craters.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
At 7:45 PM went outside to view the moon, but it was partially hidden by the neighborly rooftops. But this supper full moon appeared to be bigger and brighter than usual. Whether its perigee of about 221,567 miles away optically increased the moon's size by 14 percent or the moon's brightness by 30 percent could not be determined by my observations. Unaware of this phenomenon in March of 1993 tonight's viewing provided a moment of awe for me.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Some astronomers believe a super moon causes an increase in natural disasters on our planet such as earthquakes. Though this theory is not likely to occur, it is not being completely ruled out. This impending occurrence is said to have no link to the recent Japan earthquake and tsunami.
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