'Super moon' graces sky Saturday night

May 6, 2012

Photo by Colin Deppen - Saturday's night sky was especially illuminated with the appearance of a Super Moon. It is no optical illusion; the super-sized appearance is the result of the moon's being physically closer to the earth, roughly 15,300 miles more so than normal. The phenomena occurs when a full or new moon coincides with lunar perigee, or the closest approach the Moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit.

Saturday's night sky was especially illuminated with the appearance of a Super Moon. It is no optical illusion; the super-sized appearance is the result of the moon's being physically closer to the earth, roughly 15,300 miles more so than normal. The phenomena occurs when a full or new moon coincides with lunar perigee, or the closest approach the Moon makes to the Earth on its elliptical orbit. This annual occurrence is scheduled to take place on June 23, 2013.