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Another celestial event is unfolding. The Super Moon! Today, March 19th, a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It’s a super “perigee moon” – the biggest in almost 20 years (NASA). A perigee moon is when the moon is closest to the earth, but what makes this one particularly special is that it coincides with a full moon, which hasn’t happened since 1993.
I went out last night to have a look and this is what I saw – it really did seem bigger and brighter. It’s fascinating.
Also from NASA: The best time to look is when the Moon is near the horizon. That is when illusion mixes with reality to produce a truly stunning view. 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. On March 19th, why not let the “Moon illusion” amplify a full Moon that’s extra-big to begin with? The swollen orb rising in the east at sunset may seem so nearby, you can almost reach out and touch it.
Wow! That is AMAZING! We’ll go out tonite to catch a picture!! (by the way, are you watching the weather for tomorrow?)
Jo