Tonight: Biggest, brightest full moon of the year

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If you get a chance, check out tonight's full moon. It will be closer to Earth than it's been since 1993 - 221,560 miles away, making it look 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than 2008's other full moons. The composite NASA photo above shows how different the size of the moon appears at perigee, the moon's closest point to the Earth, and apogee, its furthest position from us. From National Geographic:

"Typically we don't have the full moon phase and perigee (the position of an object at its least distance from Earth), coinciding at the same time, so that makes this event particularly special," said Ed Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California...

"While high tides happen each month when the sun, Earth, and the moon are aligned, there is going to be an enhanced effect, with the moon being the closest it's been in more than a decade," said Ben Burress, staff astronomer at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, California.

Sky Show Tonight: Bigges, Brightest Full Moon of 2008

David Pescovitz is Boing Boing's co-editor/managing partner. He's also a research director at Institute for the Future. On Instagram, he's @pesco.

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sammich

Arkizzle @ 49 – :) , but china dolls? or toby jugs?
Takuan

good night
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjv_4CILhVA
Karnuvap

The moon’s orbit is an ellipse. It gets this close every orbit. The only difference this time is that its close approach coincides with it being a full moon.
So it is not correct to say that the moon is it’s closest for umpteen years and won’t get this close again until 2016 or whatever. The moon will be this close again next month.
But is is correct to say that the full moon won’t be this close again until 2016.
I know its too late for there to be anyone reading this far back in bOING bOING but I just thought I ought to put the record straight.
I was right under the Great British Flood Inducing storms on the night in question, enduring the works Christmas party so apologies for the sour grapes.
arkizzle

Sam, spot on :)
jphilby

The best part for me was when the local TV newsperson explained that the Moon was close to Earth “because of the wobble in its orbit.”

Maybe in seven more days we’ll see the shortest day of the year “because the Earth is listing to port.”
searconflex

Last night it was incredible. Trees casting sharp shadows on blue snow. Alas, clouds and snow is upon me… and it’s about to get COLD.
IWood

Still couldn’t eat soup with it.
sammich

Arkizzle – sorry to offend you :(
However, apart from the extra moisture, the relentlessly cruddy weather in Ireland and the UK spares our vulnerable, freckly skin by ~encouraging~ us to stay indoors :)
Takuan

rabbit in the moon
http://www.pa.msu.edu/people/frenchj/moon/rabbit-man-lady.jpg
Takuan

nice pic there #29, what lens?
Takuan

http://books.google.com/books?id=5MzUe_9Tt4AC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=rabbit+in+the+moon+japan+fable&source=web&ots=hlfdCfX9AZ&sig=DlW4cLi5jhdnStw6JiN8YWGG9Xc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result
Anonymous

“This makes for prime earthquake conditions as well.” That’s Debbie Downer talking…
seyo

Too bad is completely overcast where I am :(
minTphresh

got to watch it rise over the frankenstein bridge as i drove home from workin. tree-menjus, harry-as-a-boy, simply tree-menjuss!
ridl

Overcast too. Stupid Northwest.
InsertFingerHere

Oh geeze.. I think I’ll be sleeping on the couch tonight.
Anonymous

That was great it is so beautiful.
ty.
Great picture #29!
Ugly Canuck

It’s bright out there tonight what with today’s fresh snow.
What is this, the Hunter’s moon?
Ugly Canuck

No, I’m wrong.
It’s the Cold Moon.
Link:
http://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-names
The Long Nights moon, the Moon before Yule.
Yule what?
Takuan

that doesn’t stop lycanthropes.
Takuan

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=5BmEGm-mraE
Takuan

lunar paredoilia: Game On!
Cupcake Faerie

@#1
Fab Furry Freak Bros version:

“When you’re swimmin’ in a creek
and an eel bites your cheek
That a Moray !”

Sorry, I know, nothing to do with the mooooooon
scothampton

@#9…no, my name is Scot, not Debbie :)
SamSam

Hah! It cleared up a few hours ago here in Boston (I thought I’d miss it), and 20 minutes ago my girlfriend and I were lying on my bed when she looks out the window and says “isn’t the moon really big tonight?”

Looks great. Be sure to see it while it’s still close to the horizon, for maximum (if illusory) effect!
Nelson.C

As usual when there’s something interesting happening in the sky over Britain, there’s no opportunity to see it because the sky is covered with cloud.

I really ought to move to a desert.
Takuan

OK, lazy-web time; somewhere there is an IR telescope web feed, at least we could do that. Anyone?
sammich

Arkizzle @ 28 – but on the bright side, that’s why we Brits have such good complexions… :)
imipak

Not much use today, but in a week or two, when the moon’s no longer rendering everything else invisible against the glare:

http://www.heavens-above.com/
Ugly Canuck

When the moon hits your eye….
montauk

So that’s what an apogee is!
I just thought, you know – Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, Crystal Caves, etc.
Anonymous

lol
i just saw it. The beauty just lured me to walk outside in the night haha. I never did that before lol.
its so beautiful…
really, look at it if u can b/c it wont b until ANOTHER 15 years…
Anonymous

Let me tell you it was crazy what I saw. I was driving back from the store and I looked up and saw it and couldnt believe it. I told my grandma and sister to look up, we all couldn’t believe it was the moon. We felt as if it was just a dream, but it was more like all too realistic. To me it looked like a ball of fire pummeting to the earth, my grandma thought it was a lantern and my sister didn’t even know. But that thing was moving fast and looked like it was spinning. I thought we were all doomed, but now that nothng weird happened, I can say that that was a beautiful and rare sight.
sammich

it’s effing pissing down…

Gordon Brown has stolen my moon…
scothampton

This makes for prime earthquake conditions as well.
Takuan

nonsense,and he has the statistics to prove otherwise
normd

Bigger or not, the moon is beautiful, and going outside to look at it for a few minutes is a welcome relief from watching Senator Corker talking about the big3 bailout on C-Span.
Lea Hernandez

Went out with my trusty Canon S3 IS and a tripod and aggravated myseylf to get a picture of the craters.

I don’t think I’m ever going to get over being able to see impact craters through the zoom on a camera. I’m simple folk and a little girl at heart.

Anyway, here’s the pic:

http://divalea.deviantart.com/art/Perigee-The-Craters-106173100
Akanari

Majora’s Mask, Day One.
fluentinsilence

I went outside at 12:30 a.m. and wondered why it looked like 5:00 p.m. I could see the end of my very long street.
olele

sorry to rain on everyone’s parade, but the full moon was at 16:37 UTC, meaning it was full last night. Tonight the full moon is history – it’s waning.
ablestmage

Does it not slowly grow larger (in appearance), therefore tonight it would merely be an inchy-squinchy bit larger than the previous night? Most all of the articles I’ve read about it seem to make it out to be “whoa check out, giant moon tonight only”
Takuan

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/05/0523_050523_moonquake_2.html
arkizzle

Sam, frankly my cathode ray tan could be had anywhere with a 240v plug, but I take your point :)

Also: not a Brit. I’m an Irish resident of your fine land..
- Antinous
  
  The moon is indeed wicked bright.
Halloween Jack

Enjoy it before it crashes into the Earth, annihilating us all.
MollyMaguire

WhooHoo! Can’t wait to go skiing tonight! Ever glided across rolling hills through new fallen snow in a full moon with the hissing of the skis the only sound? Now THAT’S a wonderful thing!
Nelson.C

Olele @22: That really depends on what part of the world you’re in, doesn’t it? Sunset here was about 16.00 UTC today.
buddy66

“The Earth is an active, living planet….” –NatGeo

EGO, The Living Planet. –Stan Lee

“You are nothing but a sentient bioverse.” –Galactus
dr80085

Do enjoy the lovely light of the fullest moon, but keep the people of low-lying pacific islands in mind. Their homes tend to be washed away in tidal surges at very full moons.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7775038.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/news/10122008news.shtml
Jake0748

Y’know, for the past couple of nights as the moon was approaching full, I THOUGHT it was extra bright outside. Now I know that it wasn’t just the inner werewolf trying to get out.

BTW – I’ve met Ed Krupp a couple times, he has is a vast store of astronomical/historical information. Very entertaining guy.
sammich

sodding british weather
FoetusNail

Tonight it is at perigee, and it does seem brighter and is beautiful, the kids love the Moon.
arkizzle

Sam: Offended? Moi?

Nay, but agreement, and wholehearted! Our unbesmirched, china-doll complexions serve as testament to the truth of your words (unless either of us are 17 year old girls with orange day-glo fake tans.. but I presume not).
t3hmadhatter

We talked about this in Science class today. I found it really interesting. The article we read said the tides would only rise another foot or so though…
arkizzle

Sam, your right:

We’re getting battered.
Anonymous

hi
have a picture on my blog at http://www.salval.typepad.com

of this Perigree Full Moon
Taken approx. 6:30 pm in N.E. Pa. (I live in Shickshinny ! <— I know I know.. pretty funny name)

C’mon over and take a look !