RichmondSFBlog reader Jean sent in this news item about tomorrow night’s full moon. Apparently it will be the biggest one in 20 years, known as a super “perigee moon”.
CNN reports:
When it’s at perigee, the moon is about 31,000 miles (50,000 km) closer to Earth than when it’s at the farthest point of its orbit, also known as apogee. This celestial event is far rarer than the famed blue moon, which happens once about every two-and-a-half years.
Look for the moonrise around sunset on Saturday night; it should be pretty mind-blowing thanks to some optical illusions at play:
This full moon will rise in the east at sunset and should look especially big at that time because of what’s known as the “moon illusion.”
“For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects,” according to NASA.
Now let’s just hope this soggy weather clears up enough so we can see it!
Sarah B.
‘the moon will rise in the east’, really? I like it when the moon rises in the west. I don’t really care for it when it rises in the north.
i saw it. i was mesmerized, enchanted, inspired, its amazing when the moonlight is able to blind you and cast a shadow.