Look out tonight for the amazing spectacle of the biggest moon we've seen for 15 years
By Daily Mail Reporter
If the shortening days are getting you down, be sure to look for tonight's amazing full moon.
It will appear 14 per cent bigger than usual and a stunning 30 per cent brighter thanks to a rare, natural coincidence.
Each month the moon orbits the Earth and tonight it will skim by at its closest distance for the last 15 years.
The moon will pass a mere 356,613 km away from us - 28,000 km closer than normal.
The 15-year spectacular will occur as the moon's perigee - the closest point that it passes Earth - coincides with the full moon.
But it seems star gazers in most of England will need to work to catch a glimpse of the spectacular phenomenon.
The Met Office has forecast heavy cloud cover over the most of the UK for much of the evening.
Forecaster Andy Hobson said: 'There's a good chance that people will miss it as most of the country has a band of rain over it.'
'There's a chance they could see it, most likely in the north of Scotland.'
The best chances of catching the moon at its best are in the early morning, he said.
'It clears up in the West, in Whales, the South West of England and in Ireland.'
'Northern Ireland has a chance of catching in the early hours of the morning.'
If bad weather does cloud the view, moongazers will have to wait for another eight years - until November 14, 2016 - for the next close encounter.
There are other reasons that sets tonight apart on the lunar calendar.
The country will also be treated to a strange phenomenon known as the moon illusion which makes the moon look larger.
As it rises this afternoon, the moon will appear to be bigger as it is closer to the horizon.
Tonight’s event will also see a slightly higher tide as the moon comes closer to the Earth with the water level rising by 0.5m (1.6ft).
This may lead to flooding, particularly along the South-West’s coast.
With the approach of the winter solstice on December 21, combined with the current tilt of the Earth, the moon will also climb to its highest point in the night's sky for the entire year.
And the phenomenon coincides with the annual Geminid meteor shower which begins tonight and continues for two days.
The 'shooting stars' will appear from the constellation Gemini but be seen all over the sky.
But with the brightness of the moon, stargazers are recommended to look away.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1094097/Look-tonight-amazing-spectacle-biggest-moon-weve-seen-15-years.html
By Daily Mail Reporter
If the shortening days are getting you down, be sure to look for tonight's amazing full moon.
It will appear 14 per cent bigger than usual and a stunning 30 per cent brighter thanks to a rare, natural coincidence.
Each month the moon orbits the Earth and tonight it will skim by at its closest distance for the last 15 years.
The moon will pass a mere 356,613 km away from us - 28,000 km closer than normal.
The 15-year spectacular will occur as the moon's perigee - the closest point that it passes Earth - coincides with the full moon.
But it seems star gazers in most of England will need to work to catch a glimpse of the spectacular phenomenon.
The Met Office has forecast heavy cloud cover over the most of the UK for much of the evening.
Forecaster Andy Hobson said: 'There's a good chance that people will miss it as most of the country has a band of rain over it.'
'There's a chance they could see it, most likely in the north of Scotland.'
The best chances of catching the moon at its best are in the early morning, he said.
'It clears up in the West, in Whales, the South West of England and in Ireland.'
'Northern Ireland has a chance of catching in the early hours of the morning.'
If bad weather does cloud the view, moongazers will have to wait for another eight years - until November 14, 2016 - for the next close encounter.
There are other reasons that sets tonight apart on the lunar calendar.
The country will also be treated to a strange phenomenon known as the moon illusion which makes the moon look larger.
As it rises this afternoon, the moon will appear to be bigger as it is closer to the horizon.
Tonight’s event will also see a slightly higher tide as the moon comes closer to the Earth with the water level rising by 0.5m (1.6ft).
This may lead to flooding, particularly along the South-West’s coast.
With the approach of the winter solstice on December 21, combined with the current tilt of the Earth, the moon will also climb to its highest point in the night's sky for the entire year.
And the phenomenon coincides with the annual Geminid meteor shower which begins tonight and continues for two days.
The 'shooting stars' will appear from the constellation Gemini but be seen all over the sky.
But with the brightness of the moon, stargazers are recommended to look away.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1094097/Look-tonight-amazing-spectacle-biggest-moon-weve-seen-15-years.html
