What is this called and when does this happen? Any Astronomers out there know about this? I've always wanted to see this phenomena
2007-01-14 06:43:43 · 6 answers · asked by necroofchaos 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You're asking about the harvest moon. There was a harvest moon in the L.A. area last week. The harvest moon occurs at moonrise, and moonset. It's a seasonal phenomenon. The moons orbit; and, the semi-annual change of the earth's rotational axis (relative to sun) contribute to the lunar monthly cycle. The monthly cycle (full moon, etcetera) can be optically distorted, and, moon may be closer to earth. The proximity of the two bodies will also produce extreme tides; don't remember the name (stellar tides, maybe).
2007-01-14 09:31:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not an astronomer, but I've read about this.
It's an optical illusion - when the moon is low on the horizon, it appears huge because your eyes see it in comparison to the landmarks around you - trees, buildings, etc. It's the same size then as when you see it high in the sky and it looks tiny, but when it's overhead you don't have the visual references for scale that make it appear large.
2007-01-14 14:51:39 · answer #2 · answered by Bess2002 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon never actually gets larger, it just appears to be so. But you knew that.
This large moon has many names. Harvest Moon is one of them. The phenomena has something to do with the moon being low on the horizon giving it a much closer appearance. Her is a great website: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast11sep_2.htm
2007-01-14 14:52:15 · answer #3 · answered by Elizabeth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
actually i don't know how to calculate it. but in the Arabic and Islamic countries they have their own date ( months)which is determined by the moon, and it is always full ( the moon) at days ( 14/15) every months in the Arabic months.
the next days u can c it full is going 2 be at (2&3/feb/2007) since that date add 30 days till u can c it full again
2007-01-14 14:58:10 · answer #4 · answered by besbez85 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It appears to be big when close to the horizon, but this is because you have things to compare it with rather than loads of apparently empty sky. It still has a diameter of only about 32 seconds of arc = ½ degree of arc.
2007-01-14 14:49:56 · answer #5 · answered by JJ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When the moon is falling to the earth!!!!! Everybody run!!!!
2007-01-14 14:54:55 · answer #6 · answered by Mattimos 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋