A Micro Harvest Moon is coming this Friday the 13th
- 5 years ago
Earth — If you're an avid stargazer, then you'll know all about this Friday's majestic micro harvest moon, if you don't, then watch closely.
A micro harvest moon will be visible on Friday the 13, when the moon reaches its apogee.
The moon's orbit is an elliptical one, which, from the eyes of an observer on earth, causes variations to the moon's size. The closest point of the moon's orbit to earth is known as the perigee. The farthest is known as the apogee.
Lunar phases shift as the moon changes its position relative to the sun and earth. A full moon appears when it is in direct opposition to the sun and is completely illuminated as seen from earth.
A "supermoon" occurs when a full moon takes place while it is closest to earth. A "micro moon" occurs when a full moon appears while it is at its farthest point from earth.
According to Norwegian site Time and Date, because a micro moon is further away, it appears approximately 14 percent smaller than a supermoon. The illuminated area also appears around 30 percent smaller, resulting in a less bright surface.
Old folklore tales suggest that micro moons affect human mental health and bring on natural disasters, which of course is not backed by science, even if this micro harvest moon is coming on Friday the 13th.
You can see this year's spectacle by looking to the east at moonrise on Friday or by looking to the west at moonset early on Saturday morning.
A micro harvest moon will be visible on Friday the 13, when the moon reaches its apogee.
The moon's orbit is an elliptical one, which, from the eyes of an observer on earth, causes variations to the moon's size. The closest point of the moon's orbit to earth is known as the perigee. The farthest is known as the apogee.
Lunar phases shift as the moon changes its position relative to the sun and earth. A full moon appears when it is in direct opposition to the sun and is completely illuminated as seen from earth.
A "supermoon" occurs when a full moon takes place while it is closest to earth. A "micro moon" occurs when a full moon appears while it is at its farthest point from earth.
According to Norwegian site Time and Date, because a micro moon is further away, it appears approximately 14 percent smaller than a supermoon. The illuminated area also appears around 30 percent smaller, resulting in a less bright surface.
Old folklore tales suggest that micro moons affect human mental health and bring on natural disasters, which of course is not backed by science, even if this micro harvest moon is coming on Friday the 13th.
You can see this year's spectacle by looking to the east at moonrise on Friday or by looking to the west at moonset early on Saturday morning.