See the Big, Bright Moon on Friday night

By William Atkins
Friday, 12 December 2008 20:19

Science - Space

On Friday December 12, 2008 over the Northern Hemisphere, the Moon will be the biggest and brightest as seen in 2008 because it is at its closest point in its orbit about the Earth, and it is also in its full Moon phase.


In fact, the Moon, Earth’s only natural satellite (moon), will be positioned at the closest point to the Earth as measured over the past fifteen years, since 1993.

When the Moon passes over the Northern Hemisphere on Friday night, astronomers predict that the Moon will appear about 30% brighter and around 14% larger than other full Moons that have been seen earlier in the year.

Astronomers say that the Moon will appear in the eastern sky over the Northern Hemisphere just after the Sun sets in the western sky.

The Moon will “appear” even larger when it first goes above the horizon (moon rise) and just before it goes below the horizon (moon set), but this appearance is an illusion that is called “Moon illusion.”

Astronomers contend that humans perceive the Moon as larger than it physically is, probably due to its closeness to trees and buildings here on Earth (however, scientists really do not agree as to what causes this phenomenon in our minds).

Its average distance from the Earth is 384,403 kilometers (238,855 miles). However, the Moon’s elliptical-shaped (oval-like) orbit about the Earth gives it various distances from the Earth. Its furthest point is called the apogee point.

This distance is approximately 405,696 kilometers (252,088 miles) away from the Earth.

Page two continues with more information on the night sky event on Friday.