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Prepare for Supermoon Saturday - biggest moon of the year

Supermoon comes on the 5th of May; why is it a ‘super’ Moon? Well, because the period when the Moon becomes full coincides with the Moon’s perigee – its closest approach to Earth. It could be a weekend to remember for amateur astronomers, especially considering that Venus will also be at its brightest these days, […]

Mihai Andrei
May 1, 2012 @ 9:48 am

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Supermoon comes on the 5th of May; why is it a ‘super’ Moon? Well, because the period when the Moon becomes full coincides with the Moon’s perigee – its closest approach to Earth.

It could be a weekend to remember for amateur astronomers, especially considering that Venus will also be at its brightest these days, but it is also the perfect time to take your significant other out for a romantic walk in the moonlight.

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In contrast to this supermoon, later this year full moon on Nov. 28 will mark the lunar apogee, the period when the satellite is the farthest away from our planet. For the best effect, if you really want to feel closer to the moon, just watch it after it rises or before it sets, when it is closest to the horizon. There, you can catch a magnificent view of the moon behind buildings or trees, an effect which produces an optical illusion, making the moon seem even larger than it really is. If you do happen to see such a splendor and take a picture, please share it with the rest of us – we’d really like to see some great supermoon pictures.

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