Full Moon Biggest and Brightest in 15 Years, December 12, 2008

by TDH | December 12, 2008 at 09:52 am

5693 views | 35 Recommendations | 26 comments

The full moon Friday evening could potentially appear up to 30% brighter and 14% bigger than normal. The moon's elliptical orbit means that tonight it will pass earth at a distance of just over 350 000km from the northern hemisphere, thus appearing bigger and brighter than normal,

The Moon's elliptical orbit means its distance from the Earth is not constant.

It will be a little over 350,000km away as it passes over the northern hemisphere, which is about 30,000km closer than usual.

If the sky is clear it will appear brighter and lighter than usual, say astronomers.

So tonight we're in for a special treat,

"It's only every few years that a full moon happens to coincide with the part of the Moon's orbit when its closest to the Earth," said Marek Kukula, an astronomer at the UK's Royal Observatory.

"What people will see is a full moon that's really bright and a bit bigger than what they're used to."

This, just weeks after our last lunar viewing event, the smiling moon.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

PatriciaY

at 11:05 on December 12th, 2008

This is the biggest and brightest moon I have ever photographed and I have photographed it many times. Step outsided tonight and see it for yourself and enjoy it!

PatriciaY has contributed a photo to this story.

Jarrett Martineau

at 13:07 on December 12th, 2008

That moon is lookin' huge...here's hoping we get to see it tonight.

tejana0823

at 06:53 on December 14th, 2008

I just saw the moon and thought it was breathtaking.....

tejana0823 has contributed a photo to this story.

Maui Mia (not verified)

at 13:04 on December 18th, 2008

Have to say that I am a Cancer by sun sign and am extreamly effected by the full moon. This was so exciting for me because I have a whole arm tattood, dedicted to my sun and crabby self. I have been looking for the perfect moon to finish my arm and what a gift I was given. Aloha from Maui

sara star

at 11:16 on December 12th, 2008

Too bad it will probably be cloudy tonight. Did see it in the daytime though on the horizon.

wwoop

at 11:50 on December 12th, 2008

This is undoubtedly the largest moon I've ever seen. I started noticing it at around 730pm, Singapore time, and quickly took a few shots of it. This photo is a HDR image from 3 exp and it revealed quite a lot of stars around the huge moon. Glad that I didn't miss a sight like this!

wwoop has contributed a photo to this story.

lefty_liberated

at 13:47 on December 12th, 2008

thanks for the story.

Blue Crush

at 14:54 on December 12th, 2008

Thanks for posting this. It's a great night here in Toronto for viewing.

paulvo

at 16:19 on December 12th, 2008

Photograph taken on 11 December 2008 in Tempe, Arizona.

paulvo has contributed a photo to this story.

E.Al-Sheikh

at 16:29 on December 12th, 2008

Amazing Gallery Thanks for sharing ;)

sunmamma

at 16:30 on December 12th, 2008

My husband noticed the moon after dinner. When I went out to the balcony I couldn't believe how big and bright it was. Gorgeous!!!! I had to grab my camera.

sunmamma has contributed a photo to this story.

Kathy FInn (not verified)

at 16:32 on December 12th, 2008

I'm seeing it clearly. That photograph is perfect. Can anyone explain the small circle with "lines" radiating out from it? It looks like a man-made globe, with a circle marking the pole and longitudinal lines. It seem unreal. Any explanation?

♥ gudnyar

at 16:56 on December 12th, 2008

This beautiful moon was seen and photographed from Iceland, big and brigth ;o))

♥ gudnyar has contributed a photo to this story.

kekimalegam

at 18:37 on December 12th, 2008

I have viewed the moon this evening on 12th dec 2008, and am very sure I have never ever seen the moon so brighter and bigger on any previous occassion that this evening.

Kady (not verified)

at 18:56 on December 12th, 2008

I can't see it. The clouds are too thick.

PhotoGrandma

at 18:58 on December 12th, 2008

A night with a full moon always changes me psychologically -- I must have little "werewolf" in me. ;o) The full moon gives me a heightened sense of it's proximity, never more than tonight, and I'm happy to witness it.

PhotoGrandma has contributed a photo to this story.

Gussi Jons

at 19:01 on December 12th, 2008

I was not able to use a tripod when I took this photo because I was fishing off the coast of Mauritania in Africa at that time. I have not taken many photos of the moon but I am sure it is better to have something steady under my feat when I try to take photos like that :)

Gussi Jons has contributed a photo to this story.

chandigarh_guy

at 20:37 on December 12th, 2008

I took this picture while trying out my new DSLR in the back yard. I will have to experiment a bit, I guess, before I get the exposures right.

chandigarh_guy has contributed a photo to this story.

kierobau

at 22:13 on December 12th, 2008

Taken in Townsville, North Queensland Australia.

kierobau has contributed a photo to this story.

Ruth B (not verified)

at 22:44 on December 12th, 2008

This was beautiful. I got a picture of it with a huge ring around it. WOW, it's amazing.

Ravi Dixit

at 23:14 on December 12th, 2008

Thanks for the story.. I saw it but never realised the reason for the great looking moon..

akmom (not verified)

at 23:19 on December 12th, 2008

You should see it in Alaska tonight . . . at 20 below! It is glorious. "The skies proclaim the work of His hands."

ajbham (not verified)

at 04:11 on December 13th, 2008

Amen! Looking at the moon from Tennessee in awe of His creation. I love thinking about all of the people viewing the same thing at the same time all over the world. Have a great day!

nana-ichi

at 10:29 on December 13th, 2008

i got the biggest full moon,today!

nana-ichi has contributed a photo to this story.

kewsvnet

at 16:57 on December 13th, 2008

Photo taken on 20/02/2008 in Peak District..a little while before the lunar eclipse that night

kewsvnet has contributed a photo to this story.

danesller0127

at 06:51 on December 14th, 2008

Some other strange lunar facts:

The moon is moving away as you read this, by about 1.6 inches (4 centimeters) a year. Eventually it'll be torn apart as an expanding sun pushes the moon back toward Earth for a wrenching close encounter.
There is no proof the full moon makes people crazy.
Beaches are more polluted during full moon, owing to the higher tides.

(source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20081211/sc_space/yearsbiggestfullmoonfridaynight)