P3D Re: Expanding Moon

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Rod Sage wrote:
> -Teri Wrote
> 
> >P.S. there is supposed to be a very special full moon in a few
> >days--on the 22nd.  15% brighter and much larger than a normal full
> >moon.  Hasn't been seen in 133 years!
> 
> Oh My! First it's Y2K. Now We have to worry about our expanding moon.
> 

Not to burst anyone's balloon, but this is not a particularly rare or
extraordinary event.  This "event" (full moon, Winter Solstice and
lunar perigee all on the same day) has actually happened several times
in the last 133 years.  The most spectacular would have been in 1912,
yet there is no real mention of it in the accounts of the time.  You
can find the full story at Sky & Telescope's web page at:

<URL:http://www.skypub.com/news/pr_991217brightmoon.html>

Don't feel too bad.  I was also really excited about this when I first
heard it.  And don't let it stop you from going out and looking up at
the moon.  Unfortunately the forecast for NYC is cloudy/rainy.

By the way, there will be a lunar eclipse visible in North America in
January 2000.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
reynolds@xxxxxxxxx              | "Oooh!"
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds  |    -- Dexter and Dee Dee
NAR# 54438                      |       "Dexter's Laboratory"