Saturday Night Special: Biggest Full Moon of 2009

[Barman]

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.

Earth, the moon and the sun are all bound together by gravity, which keeps us going around the sun and keeps the moon going around us as it goes through phases. The moon makes a trip around Earth every 29.5 days.

But the orbit is not a perfect circle. One portion is about 31,000 miles (50,000 km) closer to our planet than the farthest part, so the moon's apparent size in the sky changes. Saturday night (Jan. 10) the moon will be at perigee, the closest point to us on this orbit.

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.)

Source

It looked huge last night... I shall be looking out again this evening...

[Just One More]

And no fog forecast tonight, last night was a pea-souper and minus nine. Tonight it's forecast to be minus one and clear. I shall be out mooning with Barman 

[Barman]

And no fog forecast tonight, last night was a pea-souper and minus nine. Tonight it's forecast to be minus one and clear. I shall be out mooning with Barman 

Erm... I might be busy actually.... 

[grumpyoldsoldier]

Talking about the moon.
Scientists have shown that the moon is moving away at a tiny yet measurable distance from the earth every year. If you do the maths, you can calculate that 85 million years ago the moon was orbiting the earth at a distance of about 35 feet from the earth's surface. This would explain the death of the dinosaurs. The tallest ones, anyway.

I thought I would share that with you, we are never to old to learn.

[Darwins Selection]

Talking about the moon.
Scientists have shown that the moon is moving away at a tiny yet measurable distance from the earth every year. If you do the maths, you can calculate that 85 million years ago the moon was orbiting the earth at a distance of about 35 feet from the earth's surface. This would explain the death of the dinosaurs. The tallest ones, anyway.

I thought I would share that with you, we are never to old to learn.

Probably knocked off a few windmill blades as well.

[Miss Demeanour]

My star sign is ruled by the moon ....what does this all mean ....

[Barman]

My star sign is ruled by the moon ....what does this all mean ....

Your bum will be 14% bigger this evening than normal... 

[Nick]

 

[Barman]

I can't believe I typed that... 

 

[Pastis]

The words neck and block spring to mind 

[Barman]

The words neck and block spring to mind 

I'll turn it back to the OP and she won't notice... 


Anyhoo... we've got eight octares tonight anyway... 

[Miss Demeanour]

My star sign is ruled by the moon ....what does this all mean ....

Your bum will be 14% bigger this evening than normal... 

It's noted 

I'm just interested in how your mind works - 14% is such a random figure - not unlike my own 

[Barman]

My star sign is ruled by the moon ....what does this all mean ....

Your bum will be 14% bigger this evening than normal... 

It's noted 

I'm just interested in how your mind works - 14% is such a random figure - not unlike my own 

Owch! 

It will appear about 14 percent bigger in our sky and 30 percent brighter than some other full moons during 2009, according to NASA.

 

[Miss Demeanour]

My star sign is ruled by the moon ....what does this all mean ....

Your bum will be 14% bigger this evening than normal... 

It's noted 

I'm just interested in how your mind works - 14% is such a random figure - not unlike my own 

Owch! 

It will appear about 14 percent bigger in our sky and 30 percent brighter than some other full moons during 2009, according to NASA.

 

Please don't expect me to remember things from that long ago - from the original post that is   

[grumpyoldsoldier]

My star sign is ruled by the moon ....what does this all mean ....

Your bum will be 14% bigger this evening than normal... 

It's noted 

I'm just interested in how your mind works - 14% is such a random figure - not unlike my own 

Owch! 

It will appear about 14 percent bigger in our sky and 30 percent brighter than some other full moons during 2009, according to NASA.

 

I wish that applied to willies and brain cells