Large full moon: December 12, 2008, plus the Geminiids meteor shower! Options

[rick20625]

Tonight, December 12, 2008, the full moon is closer than normal to the earth, and should appear somewhat larger and brighter than normal -- about 15% bigger, in fact.


Here's a great picture, and some good background on the moon's close approach.
http://www.moondaily.com/reports/Biggest_F...e_Year_999.html and also http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/...-your-face.html

So for all you folks like me who enjoy things like this... well, enjoy.


Additionally, on Saturday night, Dec 13, 2008, it is the peak of the annual Geminiids meteor shower. However, because of the big bright moon... it is going to be significantly washed out. But still... Here's some description of the Geminids meteor shower: http://www.visualastronomy.com/2008/12/gem...hower-2008.html

Peak USA viewing times 10pm - dawn on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Most everyone can find Orion. To the left of Orion is the full moon, located in the center of the constellation Gemini tonight. Just to the left of the full moon is where the meteors should appear to be originating from .

GEMINIID RADIANT -- FULL MOON ----- ORION

Here's a chart of where to look. Rate could approach 120-140 / hour
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_stNRnvwssuY/STmx.../geminids08.jpg


Bundle up and enjoy if it is clear!

[be back 1]

it was un real rising from ocean last night and it was cold it was due east of us> it was great

[kujhawker]

All that pic needs is an otter on a bicycle

[Rob_C]

All that pic needs is an otter on a bicycle

Go, Rick go!

*watches Rick fire up Photoshop*

Rob

[DHillMSP]

Go, Rick go!

*watches Rick fire up Photoshop*

Rob

And somewhere in North America, Steven Spielberg just woke up with a start, panting and sweating.

Just make sure to put a big Finch in the basket in the front of the bicycle. It could be a new logo for HFP.

--

As for the full moon last evening...I tend to be sensitive to such things (yes, I suppose I'm a lunatic)...it was...palpable.

[Mighty]

Beautiful pick rick. Thank you for sharing with us. My sister swears that on nights of the full moon the hospital experiences higher than usual volume of patients. I keep telling her that is not the case. There have been studies that disprove this. She won't listen though. She is very superstitious.

[rick20625]

Let's just say Rob Caves was very busy last night taking advantage of the big moon to do some location work for a new project... Oh, what the heck... here's the preliminary poster.

[rick20625]

It was a beautiful cold night in my area. The full moon rising was SPECTACULAR. I don't know whether it was because my mind wanted it to be bigger... but it seems enormous to me. Because of the clear night... it was very very bright.

I was out last night, and around 11pm was heading home. There was a frost on the field picking up the bright moon. It was bright enough under the moonlight to read. Shadows were being cast. At my house, which is on a very wide river, the sparkling reflected light of the moon overhead made it seem very silvery odd indeed.

In the sky, most of the stars within a hand-span around the moon were washed out. Orion (a huge and very bright constellation nearby was also somewhat washed out (although all the key stars were visible.

So whether it was truly perceptible or not, in the cold crystal clear air, it was a spectacular night to observe the full moon.

I'll try to go out late tonight to see if I can see any Geminiids... but if it is nearly as bright and clear as last night, it may be underwhelming.

Rick

P.S. As requested... S.T. the Otterterrestrial (yes, I know there's a typo... too late. That was my 5 minute quickie and just for fun).

[Rob_C]

LMAO!!!

Sorry, easily amused.

Rob

[rick20625]

LMAO!!! Sorry, easily amused. Rob

Obviously. Although seeing Jennifer Cole scream at Stephen T. and then play dress up with him would be a highlight.

[sabarwolf]

You may have heard something sounding like "Arrooooooooooo! Arrrrooooooooooooo!" coming from the vicinity of the Wolves'... pay it no mind. It's just our time of the month.

[kujhawker]

Beautiful pick rick. Thank you for sharing with us. My sister swears that on nights of the full moon the hospital experiences higher than usual volume of patients. I keep telling her that is not the case. There have been studies that disprove this. She won't listen though. She is very superstitious.

But there is some basis for more activity on a full moon in general historically that really is no longer the case.

I was reading an interesting history book about societies in European cities. Many times in societies big evening events where planned according to the almanac and when the full moon would occur, especially in the winter months. Because before electric or gas light cities where pretty dark. Yes there was candle light and oil but for the most part the streets where pretty dark. So the full moon provided the needed light to get around (provided not cloudy). So many times parties and events where planned around them to provide light for travelling. People of gone back to various newspapers, etc. and seen that type of increase in activity. So more people where out during the full moon.

[Rob_C]

Obviously. Although seeing Jennifer Cole scream at Stephen T. and then play dress up with him would be a highlight.

Well you know it's not too late to start making requests for the holiday party webcam, or a future Wednesday night show...

Rob