Super full moon set to shine
The last full moon of 2017 will appear especially plump and vibrant in the night sky today.
As it reaches fullness, the Moon will also be making its closest approach to Earth about the same time, designating it a ‘‘supermoon’’. Because of the Moon’s extra-close approach to Earth, it will appear about 14 per cent bigger than if it were at its farthest away point in its orbit.
It will shine up to 30 per cent brighter, not only because it is close to Earth but also because Earth will be nearing its closest to the Sun in early January.
According to Metservice, most Kiwis will get a good view of the supermoon on Monday night. It will be mainly fine in the North Island, with a few showers north of Tauranga and afternoon showers about the central high country.
The South Island is also set for fine weather, apart from cloudy periods and patchy light rain in the west and south.
December’s full moon is known as the Cold Moon or Frost Moon in the northern hemisphere. It is also sometimes referred to as the Moon Before Yule (Yule is an old northern European winter festival associated with Christmas).
While this supermoon is 2017’s one and only, 2018 will start with two in succession. Supermoons are set to occur twice in January, on the 2nd and 31st. When two full moons occur in the same month, the second is sometimes called a blue moon or, in this case, a super blue moon.
Astrologer Richard Nolle defined a supermoon in 1979, saying it was a new or full moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90 per cent of its closest approach to Earth, known as perigee, in a given orbit.