Saturday Night Special: Biggest Full Moon of 2009

Saturday Night Special: Biggest Full Moon of 2009

news.yahoo.com

If skies are clear Saturday, go out at sunset and look for the giant moon rising in the east. It will be the biggest and brightest one of 2009, sure to wow even seasoned observers.

It will appear about 14 percent bigger in our sky and 30 percent brighter than some other full moons during 2009, according to NASA. (A similar setup occurred in December, making that month's full moon the largest of 2008.)

(visit the link for the full news article)

I love this kind of thing. However, I can't help but think about all the crazies that get a little stranger when the moon is full. When it rises it will appear absolutely huge. Thats bound to effect some people. Last nights moon was extremely bright here in Texas. Tonights should be even better if the weather holds.

news.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Oh, cool! It's going to look bigger and brighter because it is the closest to us in it's orbit all year. Wave to the moon people!

Wasnt it the biggest it ever was in the last 14 years like a month ago?

Thanks for the "heads up"!

Does this mean "crazies" will be even "crazier" tonight?

I guess we'll just have to wait and read the police news tomorrow!

Be pretty interesting to read tonight's police news tomorrow and compare it to last Saturday nights police news.

[edit on 1/10/2009 by Keyhole]

Originally posted by Agent Styx
Wasnt it the biggest it ever was in the last 14 years like a month ago?

Something like that, yes.

When it comes to naked eye stargazing...

Jack Horkheimer is the way to go. He really lays it out well on his downloadable video clips, or you may be able to see him on PBS... When I was a young monkey, I was fortunate enough to be incarcerated at the Miami Museum of Science and I was able to pick up some good astronomy tips from Jack... The lab scene kind of sucked though...

Back then, it was "Star Hustler."

Planetarium Monkeys, not just for space transit anymore...

AWESOME! So far looks like I will have clear skies.
Off to get camera and tripod ready

Wow 30% brighter is substantial .

I wonder if the increased activity at Yellowstone is related , with magma also susceptible to the effects of the moons gravitational pull.


The Moon Illusion might interest the curious.

It is unrelated to this phenomenon (i.e moons orbit is not a perfect circle)
it relates to Why the Moon Looks Big at the Horizon and Smaller When Higher Up.

Perceptual anomalies are always fascinating especially on such a scale.
It was featured in the New Scientist a while back.

Ive got my telescope setup but the sky isn't being very co-operative. Its been cloudy just about everyday since Ive got this thing. Hopefully it clears up, I'm dying to take some pics of it with my digicam.

Peace

It's only 5pm here and I already see it. It's very bright and huge

I am on the east coast and it is too cloudy! Could you hook a girl up and post some pics tonight?

Too cloudy here... with nasty weather to boot. Which always seems to be the case where I live : /

Good stuff, and great username! I hope you are properly and dramatically silhouetted in a doorway, for maximum effect!

Originally posted by greeneyedleo
AWESOME! So far looks like I will have clear skies.
Off to get camera and tripod ready

Ok I am quoting myself, because earlier we had clear skies. Now its dark and we are overcast. The moon can barely be seen behind the clouds.

This is the 3rd big event in the skies I have missed lately due to cloudy skies.

*tears*

reply to post by PammyK


Heres the link to my flickr page. These are some of the shots as the moon rose over the treeline and behind the clouds in Texas. Sorry some are a little blurry, shaky tripod.

Moon

Originally posted by Dirk Gently
reply to post by PammyK

 

Heres the link to my flickr page. These are some of the shots as the moon rose over the treeline and behind the clouds in Texas. Sorry some are a little blurry, shaky tripod.

Moon

Thanks for the photos! The photos were really cool looking through the trees!

Well, the sky cleared up enough for me to get to see the moon!

I have a relatively new HD Vid Camera - and Im not sure how to use it well yet (as you will see). So here is a picture and a short video. Sorry the video is a bit shaky. I was trying to hurry before the clouds moved in and didnt have my tripod still enough....plus it was VERY windy and cold!!

VIDEO (photobucket)

PHOTO (full resolution - large)

NITE VISION (full res)

VIDEO - Night Vision (photobucket)



[edit on 1/10/2009 by greeneyedleo]

reply to post by The Last Man on Earth


yes always with my coat and hat.

I DID notice that the moon was bigger than usual...I made mention of it to my wife, she noticed it as well. I did attempt to take pics with my cell phone camera...to no avail. The pics just aren't good enough to see the difference. Good call!