Has anyone noticed how big & bright the moon is from the UK tonight?

Question

Astronomers out there - How often is it this big & bright?
Maybe I don't normally notice or it's hidden behind clouds.

Dave - yes it's quite low on the horizon at the moment, shining straight through my window.

Answer 1

Its big everywhere - and beautiful. The moon is near its perigee, or its closest point to the earth. This makes it appear slightly bigger than usual. PS - Mars will NEVER appear anywhere near as big as the moon. It looks like a large star even at its closest point to the earth.

Answer 2

I don't know about UK but I live in Spain and its a beautiful moon this evening here too, big and bright, but it could have something to do with the fact that Mars is the closest to earth than it has ever been before and will be again until sometime in the 23rd century, from the beginning of this month Mars is growing bigger to the naked eye, as it gets closer, and by the 27th August it will appear as big as the Moon, it will rise as night falls in the east and be at its best to see at midnight, so I reckon this is what is causing the moon to seem some what brighter and more beautiful, keep this in mind and check the night sky out every night but especially on the 27th of this Month.

Answer 3

Perhaps it's got something to do with whats going to happen this month, Mars comes close to Planet Earth.......in August! Mars
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounte that
will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in
recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is
in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on
Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be
certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth
in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as
60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when
Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and
will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in
the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9
and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest
75-power magnification


Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.
Mars will be easy to spot. At the
beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m.
and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

By the _end of August when the two planets are
closest_, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its
highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has
seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at
the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progressively bri ghter and brighter throughout the
month. _
Share this with your children and grandchildren._

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN



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Answer 4

Howie's answer is : optimistic !! Howie Has recognized on the Moon Already this night and could desire to look decrease back !! Howie Takes a destroy From paintings and is going outdoors to examine the great finished Moon ~ Now Pull Your Pants decrease back Up !! Howie is guffawing !! 2:19 AM

Answer 5

If it is low on the horizon there is sometimes an optical illusion that makes the moon seem way bigger,

Answer 6

It's a full moon tomorrow so it's particularly noticeable at the moment.

Answer 7

Oh good lord! You made me get up and go outside!! But, yes I suppose it is rather more moon like than normal

Answer 8

We are in northern Poland, and both my wife and i commented how the moon was larger, and brighter looking than normal.

The end of the world is nigh perhaps.

Answer 9

I shall go and sit outside with a nice cup of tea, but I have feeling its going to be to cloudy to see it.

Answer 10

Can't see it. Too much cloud.