Earlier Super Moon
Skywatchers looking up this Saturday night (May 5) at the full moon may sense it’s a bit more striking than usual- and they won’t be imagining it. Thanks to coincidental timing of the moon being at its closest approach to Earth for 2012 while in its full phase, our planet’s companion will appear 16% larger and 30% brighter than usual. While some are calling it a supermoon, astronomers say that the hype surrounding its supposed ’super-effects’ on Earth are unwarranted.
For thousands of years connections between the motion and phase of the moon have been made with various happening here on Earth from timing of harvests to ocean navigation, so making the leap that the Moon not only reflects, but actually controls natural occurrences is very understandable, astronomers say. But now we have physics and astronomy on our side and we know pretty well what’s possible and what is not.
Earlier Super Moon
Skywatchers looking up this Saturday night (May 5) at the full moon may sense it’s a bit more striking than usual- and they won’t be imagining it. Thanks to coincidental timing of the moon being at its closest approach to Earth for 2012 while in its full phase, our planet’s companion will appear 16% larger and 30% brighter than usual. While some are calling it a supermoon, astronomers say that the hype surrounding its supposed ’super-effects’ on Earth are unwarranted.
For thousands of years connections between the motion and phase of the moon have been made with various happening here on Earth from timing of harvests to ocean navigation, so making the leap that the Moon not only reflects, but actually controls natural occurrences is very understandable, astronomers say. But now we have physics and astronomy on our side and we know pretty well what’s possible and what is not.