Super moon to be big and bright Saturday, but will you be able to see it?
Steve Pepple | AnnArbor.com
A super moon rises over Whitmore Lake in March 2011.
If the weather cooperates Saturday, the Ann Arbor area is in for a celestial treat - a full moon that’ll be a lot bigger and brighter than normal.
Astronomers have nicknamed it a super moon. The phenomenon is occurring because the full phase of the moon coincides with the moon’s perigee or closest approach to earth.
Saturday, the moon will be about 14 percent larger and up to 30 percent brighter.
The official full moon will occur at 11:35 p.m. Saturday, but the best viewing will be just after the moon rises or before it sets, Accuweather.com reports.
So, will the weather cooperate? Cross your fingers. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies. ‘There may be a few breaks, but it’s going to be pretty cloudy,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Amos Dodson.
The last super moon was in March 2011.
You can watch a NASA video about the super moon below.
Comments
DBH
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.
Bunch of lunatics!
jns131
Sun, May 6, 2012 : 1:31 p.m.
Exactly DBH! That is where the word comes from. Lunar.
Bryan Ellinger
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
For those of you interested in the timing and placement of the Moon (and Sun), there is a nice bit of software called the Photographer's Ephemeris. (http://photoephemeris.com/) The desktop version is free.
arborani
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
And in which quadrant of the sky?
jjc155
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 5:23 p.m.
It will be the quadrant with THE HUGE MOON IN IT! LOL. Not like we're trying to find Waldo here.
jns131
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
Depends on what time of day you are seeing it. Evenings is usually in the East and Mornings are sometimes in the West. Same flow as the sun. Unless you get some reversal.
TruthMan
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 12:19 p.m.
what time is the optimum time for viewing in Ann Arbor ?? What is the optimum moon rise and set time ?? wouldn't that be helpful and newsworthy ?
Cindy Heflin
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 6:41 p.m.
The moon will rise at 8:31 p.m., according to Weather Underground, and set at 5:46 a.m.
Rugeirn Drienborough
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 12:16 p.m.
The reality is, you're going to see a full moon that is less than one f-stop brighter, and just a smidgen larger, than usual. If you cleanse your mind of the hype and look at it objectively, you'll see a nice full moon that looks just about the same as any other nice full moon. Hyping ordinary astronomical events as if they were the eighth and ninth and tenth wonders of the world does absolutely no good to anyone. It actually weakens public appreciation and understanding of science, which is a very bad thing; large fractions of our population already believe a wide variety of mind-numbing rot.
Subroutine
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 9:20 p.m.
I disagree in this instance. Drawing attention to this may influence some people to take an interest in astronomy. I agree that when science and politics/media coincide it is often counterproductive, but I don't think that's the case here. However if your point was only intended to let us all know how much smarter than us you are on this particular topic, you have made your point. Good job.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sat, May 5, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
Aren't you a Debbie Downer