Supermoon in Adelaide - August 2014

Supermoon in Adelaide - August 2014

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Posted 2014-07-13 by Ann Lundfollow

Mon 11 Aug 2014

Super full moons occur each year and are a fascinating phenomenan of space in relation to Earth. A super full moon or a 'perigree - syzgy of the Earth - Moon - Sun system' is when the earth is on its closest approach to the earth in a given orbit. Earth, Moon and Sun all in line with the Moon in its nearest approach to Earth. The orbit of the moon around the Earth is elliptical (oval shaped) not circular therefore at some points it is closer to the Earth than others. The Moon completes its orbit of the Earth every 29 days and is at its closest at around 370,000km from Earth.

When a full moon coincides with the point when it is closest to Earth that is when we get a Supermoon.

At the next Supermoon observed from Adelaide on 11 August 2014 at 3.40am (18.10GMT), you can let your friends and family know that it is 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a regular full moon. Only 59% of the Moon surface can be seen from Earth with the remaining 41% called the 'far side'. You can also intrigue your family and guests by explaining that the Moon is in fact moving away from Earth ever so slowly. It is propelling itself out of the Earth's orbit at 3.8cm each year. On formation the moon was 22,530 km from Earth and is now 238,900km away.

The supermoon viewed from Adelaide is a specular site. If you are keen to get a very good view of it on 11 August at 3.40am pick a spot with a clear horizon - at the beach, on a mountain look out or an area with few trees to restrict your view. The supermoon can be seen by bare eyes but more spectacular views will be experienced through binoculars or a telescope.

If you want to catch all future supermoons up to 2020 they will be: 28 Sep 2015; 14 Nov 2016; 26 May 2017; 1 Jan 2018; 19 Feb 2019; 7 Apr 2020.

If you have an interest in space, planets and the stars you may wish to look up the events and observatory visits possible in and around Adelaide organised by the Astronomical Society of South Australia via their website here .

#august
#astronomy
#attractions
#family_attractions
#free
#fun_things_to_do
#greater_adelaide
#hobbies
#learn_something
#outdoor
#planetariums
#unusual_things_to_do
!date 11/08/2014 -- 11/08/2014
%wnadelaide
114810 - 2023-06-12 17:57:11

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