Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of 2010 Tonight

[Miss Critter]

Unfortunately, heavy rain is predicted for us tonight, but maybe we can catch the moon rise before it gets too bad.

Tonight's full moon will be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. It offers anyone with clear skies an opportunity to identify easy-to-see features on the moon.

This being the first full moon of 2010, it is also known as the wolf moon, a moniker dating back to Native American culture and the notion that hungry wolves howled at the full moon on cold winter nights. Each month brings another full moon name.

But why will this moon be bigger than others? Here's how the moon works:

The moon is, on average, 238,855 miles (384,400 km) from Earth. The moon's orbit around Earth ? which causes it to go through all its phases once every 29.5 days ? is not a perfect circle, but rather an ellipse. One side of the orbit is 31,070 miles (50,000 km) closer than the other.

So in each orbit, the moon reaches this closest point to us, called perigee. Once or twice a year, perigee coincides with a full moon, as it will tonight, making the moon bigger and brighter than any other full moons during the year.

Biggest and Brightest Full Moon of 2010 Tonight - Yahoo! News

 

[Susan Horn]

I'm using that as my excuse of the week (being so emotional). Anybody else crying over just about anything sad, nostalgic, or downright sappy? Probably I have a chocolate deficit.

 

[Lynnie]

It has been quite a nice surprise, this winter moon. It is setting here around 6AM, I think.......at least that's when my eyes pop open and my entire deck and backyard are lit up! I can see the moon through the french doors and it is strategically positioned between the branches to illuminate brightly, boldly and beautifully! I love it~~~~~

Susan, I'm going with the chocolate deficit, too.....eat up! ;-)

 

[Gidget]

I'm using that as my excuse of the week (being so emotional). Anybody else crying over just about anything sad, nostalgic, or downright sappy? Probably I have a chocolate deficit.

Kinda sorta been a week like that - I have to shake it and move on. LOL on chocolate.

Thanks for article on moon!!! Miss Critter!

G

 

[Mermaid]

It has been quite a nice surprise, this winter moon. It is setting here around 6AM, I think.......at least that's when my eyes pop open and my entire deck and backyard are lit up! I can see the moon through the french doors and it is strategically positioned between the branches to illuminate brightly, boldly and beautifully! I love it~~~~~

Susan, I'm going with the chocolate deficit, too.....eat up! ;-)

The moon has been gorgeous this winter! Today (at the beach) the moon rises at 6:11 pm and sets at 6:46 am and tomorrow it rises at 7:21 pm and sets at 7:26 am. I won't be at my condo until the sandy hands event so I haven't a clue if either happens over the water--anyone know?

 

[Miss Critter]

I'm using that as my excuse of the week (being so emotional). Anybody else crying over just about anything sad, nostalgic, or downright sappy? Probably I have a chocolate deficit.

Um, yes, but this is not entirely unusual for me. And no chocolate deficit to blame it on. Are you a moonchild, too?

 

[Matt J]

Ah yes it's a truly magical sight.

 

[Minnie]

Love the spotlight in that moon.

 

[Susan Horn]

Um, yes, but this is not entirely unusual for me. And no chocolate deficit to blame it on. Are you a moonchild, too?

Not by my chart, but the moon does have a strong pull on me, and my fellas too. For sure chocolate deficit is a component this week, as I can't have any because of this dadgum allergy elimination dingdang diet I'm on.

 

[Matt J]

While I appreciate the thanks for the picture I hope people realize it's not real. That's a screen shot from the Truman Show.