mooning ...

I kept looking out last night and thinking how bright it was, apparently there was a reason, the moons orbit bought it closer to use than usual, some 30,000km closer in fact. That made it 30% bigger and 40% brighter.

Anyone else notice?

I wish has been clear and cold all week so was goning to look ,last night cloud and driving rain and still is :(.reminds of time when Hale bop comet came round spent a week in Kent looking at smudge,next week in the Alps looked like you could have reached up and grabbed it.
Goff

ise wrote:
I kept looking out last night and thinking how bright it was, apparently there was a reason, the moons orbit bought it closer to use than usual, some 30,000km closer in fact. That made it 30% bigger and 40% brighter.

Anyone else notice?

A phenomenen know as a perigee moon. Apogee and perigee refer to the distance from the Earth to the moon. Apogee is the furthest point from the earth. Perigee is the closest point to the earth and it is in this stage that the moon appears larger.

Astronomers have formulas for computing the exact distance at any point in time, but the average distance from Earth is 237,700 miles (382,500 km).

Effects of Apogee and Perigee

The apogee and perigee of the moon have a definite affect on the weather and tides here on Earth. When the moon is at Apogee, the furthest distance from the Earth, it has less gravitational pull. Weather conditions can be more stable and the tides more predictable. When the moon is at perigee, closer to the Earth, there is much more gravitational pull and it can whip up the tides and cause weather to become more unstable.

Aha, so the moon is responsible for the fantastic snow fall across Europe then.
Yesterday afternoon I noticed the moon was full and in the sky long before sunset. It was big and bright, and at the time I thought nothing of it, but this explains it.
It was noticeable also that overnight a wind whipped up, which has now subsequently dropped again.

ise,
No moon visible here last night!
The same weather system over goff kept the Nova Scotia skies hidden with the cloud cover. Due to the weather you can never be sure of catching astronomical events. :cry:

Here is a site (of possible interest) which gives some satellite viewing opportunity predictions if you know your lat & long. These predictions are really accurate and have provided me with many views of the ISS and Iridium satellites. If you're out for some night skiing check this site for info which could impress your friends.
http://www.heavens-above.com/

Mike :wink:

Thanks Mike to much light pollution in Kent where we are to see owt but the moon. Have entered our co-ordinates in The Jura, as we intend to do nightime xcountry.
Be able to pick out planets satlellites and the space station if i can comprehend the instructions :roll:.
Goff

Goff,

My mistake :oops: when I saw your location as Rochester I assumed Rochester, New York rather than Kent :oops:
We have had a spell of wet, windy and very mild (+15C) lately and this weather usually flows up the US seaboard and when you mentioned your cloudy skies ... well ... you got the rest ...

If you haven't already seen them, the Iridium flares are really neat and with a sharp eye and good timing your un-knowing friends will be impressed when you suggest "Oh, look up over there --- there will be a flash of light in a few seconds!" If there isn't a flash they will not be surprised BUT when there is you will be The One ! Night time XC skiing would be a great opportunity for this observation.

Good luck,

Mike :wink:

rats! Not what I thought the thread was about :oops:

getjim your dog is a cutie!