Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 47,612
Thanks: 27,636
Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts
|
re: 'Supermoon,' PHOTOs/VIDEO-Meteor Shower Lights Up Sky Sunday
PICTURED: Lunar SUPERMOON Show Illuminates World's Skies
By AP, 11 August 2014
A supermoon will happen three times this year, with Sunday night's sky show the second. The first one occurred on July 12 and the third will take place on Sept. 9.
A view of the 'supermoon', or perigee moon, rising behind The Shard building in London.
People around the world this weekend looked up at the sky to view a lunar phenomenon: the supermoon.
Known to scientists as a perigee moon, Earth's neighbor appears at its largest and brightest compared to other full moons when it orbits closer to our planet. It can even be seen during the daytime.
A girl plays with a dog as a perigee moon, also known as a supermoon, rises in Madrid, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014.
The phenomenon, which scientists call a perigee moon, occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons.
(AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
A supermoon raises over Fiskeback harbor with sailing boats, outside of the Gothenburg, Sweden, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. The supermoon phenomenon,
-which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons.
(AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
The full moon peeks through trees in a wood near Rasing, Austria, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call
a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons.
(AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
People watch the super moon rising in the sky in front of the Apollo's temple at ancient Corinth about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Athens, on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014.
The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons.
(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The super moon rises over a Chinese words reads "China construction" in Beijing, China Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. The phenomenon,
which scientists call a perigee moon, occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons.
(AP Photo/Andy Wong)
The moon appears behind a Spanish fighting bull in Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014. The phenomenon,
-which scientists call a perigee moon, occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons.
Climbing vines are silhouetted by the supermoon above Edgartown, Mass., Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, on the island of
Martha's Vineyard. President Barack Obama and his family are vacationing on the island. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
In this aerial photo, the moon peeks through clouds over Baton Rouge, La., Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. The phenomenon, which scientists call
a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons.
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
People watch a laser and light show on the Crazy Horse Memorial, left, under a supermoon, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014, in Custer, S.D.
The phenomenon, which scientists call a "perigee moon," occurs when the moon is near the horizon and appears larger and brighter than other full moons. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Scroll down for video
Spectacular:
The supermoon lit up the night sky over London last night providing a glowing backdrop to the Shard skyscraper
Crowds gathered in the hope of capturing spectacular pictures of the supermoon rising above Tower Bridge in London (pictured)
Last night's supermoon appeared 16 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than normal as it reached the closest point to Earth in its orbit
The 'supermoon' appeared 16 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than normal
-as it reached the point in its orbit closest to the Earth, known as 'perigee'. It is pictured here behind the Shard in London
Glowing: The night sky almost appeared blue as it glimmered over Brighton.
-The light can be seen reflecting off the sea in this spectacular night shot of Brighton Pier
Blue moon:
A stargazer takes an snap of the supermoon using a mobile phone device while the sky around it in South London appears to turn blue
The full moon was a bright presence in the
London night sky and many lit up many of
the capital's greatest buildings and monuments
-including the Shard
THE BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST IN 20 YEARS: SUPERMOON EXPLAINED
A supermoon occurs when the moon is both 'full' and at its closest point to Earth.
Astronomers call this phenomenon a 'perigee moon,' which describes the full moon that occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth each year.
Perigee marks the closest point a body reaches as it orbits around its host object such as Earth, while apogee marks the farthest point from its parent body.
Almost every orbit has an apogee and perigee because orbits tend to be elliptical rather than perfectly circular, so even Earth has an apogee and perigee around the sun.
Last night the supermoon was 16 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter as it passed Earth 221,765 miles away. Although they occur every 13 months and 18 days, they are not always noticed because of cloudy weather.
This year there are five supermoons, two new moons in January and full moons in July, August and September.
Stargazers Around the Globe Have Been Dazzled by the Supermoon:
|