![]() ![]() Of course, we don’t expect every full moon to coincide with its perigee and not every new moon coincides with its apogee. That is, for those of you more familiar with the Imperial system, 221,500 miles and 252,700 miles respectively, with a differential range of 31,200 miles. At its perigee (or nearest to the Earth), the moon is around 356,500 km away from our planet, while at its apogee (or most distant), it is around 406,700 km away. In the case of the moon, the differences are certainly noticeable. Why does this happen? While some of us tend to think that the planets and moons within our solar system move in near-perfect circles, the truth of the matter is that their orbits are more or less elliptical-with some significantly deviating from a true circle. And the difference is, of course, less apparent when compared to an average moon. Nevertheless, the difference between the largest ones (commonly known as “Super Moons”) and the smallest ones, is only really apparent when you view them side-by-side in photos. The largest possible full moon is about 15% larger and 30% brighter than the smallest one, but most fall somewhere in the middle. If you are an avid stargazer, you already know that the apparent size of the full moon as seen from Earth varies throughout the year. Super: This means that the moon is closer than average.īlue: The second full moon in a month is called a “blue moon.” At 29.5 days, the lunar phase cycle falls right under an average month, making two full moons a possibility every so often.īlood: This means that the moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, giving viewers in the right location a total lunar eclipse. To understand it, let’s break down the name word-for-word: Recently, there’s been a lot of discussion on this week’s “Super Blue Blood Moon.” But what does that mean? And should you run out and find a telescope? ![]() ![]() My hair has darkened since those days, but that early vision of Earth’s gravitational companion has planted the seed for who I am today and the work I do at Frost Science. It was a full moon-and I was just a curious four-year-old with light hair. I still remember the first time I became fully aware of the moon. ![]()
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