Science

pokerfan

(27,677 posts)

12. Right

Fri Jun 21, 2013, 05:46 PM

Jun 2013

Gravitationally, it makes no difference whether the Moon is full or not. Observationally, it just means a somewhat larger, brighter full moon. From the nasa link:

It is called a Supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect. The 'super' in Supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer, but unless we were measuring the Earth-Moon distance by laser rangefinders (as we do to track the LRO [Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter] spacecraft in low lunar orbit and to watch the Earth-Moon distance over years), there is really no difference. The supermoon really attests to the wonderful new wealth of data NASA's LRO mission has returned for the Moon, making several key science questions about our nearest neighbor all the more important.

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Get ready for Supermoon Sunday, you lunatics! [View all] pokerfan Jun 2013 OP

I can't see it through the mountains due east of here Warpy Jun 2013 #1

Phil Plait blogged about this the other day. longship Jun 2013 #2

appreciate the link Voice for Peace Jun 2013 #4

Yeah, you can't really tell pokerfan Jun 2013 #6

Um! The closest moon happens every damned month. longship Jun 2013 #10

Right pokerfan Jun 2013 #12

Well, you'd better have a damned good instrument to detect the difference. longship Jun 2013 #16

Again, right pokerfan Jun 2013 #17

Plus, it looks really large through a telephoto lens. longship Jun 2013 #19

I remember first time when i saw a supermoon as a child darkangel218 Jun 2013 #3

You mean lunartics?... awoke_in_2003 Jun 2013 #5

The Summer Solstice is June 21st, the longest day and shortest night of the year, bvar22 Jun 2013 #7

I know current usage is "the beginning of summer" truebluegreen Jun 2013 #15

True that pokerfan Jun 2013 #18

Sorry, can't make it. Please post pics. (n/t) Jim Lane Jun 2013 #23

Bring my own naked WHAT? HillWilliam Jun 2013 #24

Under the Super Moon at Midnight on the Solstice, bvar22 Jun 2013 #26

Is this the super moon that was supposed to hit Earth on Dec 21 2012? truedelphi Jun 2013 #8

No. truebluegreen Jun 2013 #22

I'm in. I can bring a few HillWilliam Jun 2013 #25

Gosh, that sounds delish. truedelphi Jun 2013 #27

I wonder what percentage of people flipping out over that can actually notice a difference. (nt) Posteritatis Jun 2013 #9

In the new America, you really do have to watch what you write. matt819 Jun 2013 #11

My neighbor just sent me an email about this. timdog44 Jun 2013 #13

Real treat tomorrow at sunrise? tomorrow (Saturday) coldbeer Jun 2013 #14

GROOVY! dreampunk Jun 2013 #20

I'm upstream a ways pokerfan Jun 2013 #21