Weekend full moon the biggest in about 20 years

[Geee]

Chicago Tribune:

If the moon looks a little bit bigger and brighter this weekend, there's a reason for that. It is.

Saturday's full moon will be a super "perigee moon" -- the biggest in almost 20 years. This celestial event is far rarer than the famed blue moon, which happens once about every two-and-a-half years.

"The last full moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1993," said Geoff Chester with the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington. "I'd say it's worth a look."

Full moons look different because of the elliptical shape of the moon's orbit. When it's at perigee, the moon is about 31,000 miles (50,000 km) closer to Earth than when it's at the farthest point of its orbit, also known as apogee.

[NCTexan]

Thanks for the post... I did not realize that this was a "special" moon. Just last evening, I noticed how particularly big and bright the moon appeared as I put Sadie out to take care of business.

 

It was so beautiful that I called RM out to see.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRKdZ4Ft9to

[nickydog]

I came downstairs last night at 4:00 to get some juice and the house was so bright with the moon shining in I could see perfectly. It was just gorgeous.