The smallest moon of 2014 will be in the night sky tonight (Jan.15).
Scientist says that fullmoon are not always the same in size. There were nights that the moon is smaller and then different on the other.
January fullmoon tonight marks the smallest moon for 2014. This phenomenon that happens once in a year is called "micro-moon".
Tonight's full moon will be at a distance of 406, 536 kilometers away from us, or 184 kilometers away from its maximum distance. This is when the moon is in its furthest point it can reach from the Earth.
The "supermoon", which is the condition where the moon is in its nearest distance from the earth, happens 3 times every year.The term "supermoon" was invented by an astrologer Richard Nolle.
There are factors that affect the formation of the "super" and "micro" moon.
One is the elliptical shape of the orbit which brings the moon closer to the earth during perigee and farther during apogee.
Second factor is four exact right angles of the moon while it is moving on its orbit. The angles create the 4 phases of the moon which includes the "new moon" where the moon is between the sun and earth and "first quarter" when it moves quarter way and lit the right side. Another is "full moon" when it moves directly opposite the sun, and lastly, "last quarter" when it is lit on the left side.
There is an optical illusion called "the moon illusion" which makes the moon looks bigger to the human eye. This is the reason why the moon tonight will look bigger or same though it is the smallest ever for this year.
The sizes of the moon cannot be determined on our own. The moon tends to play with the eyes, blinding you with its real size.
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