Full moon is a lot fuller these days

Straits Times 10 Feb 09;

IF YOU thought the full moon appeared larger in the sky over the last few weeks than it usually does, you were not wrong.

It was because the moon has come closest to the Earth than at any time since 1957.

The full moon appeared the largest on Jan 10, when it was just about 300,000km from Earth, compared to the average distance of 350,000km.

Last night, the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, it was about 305,000km from Earth, said the Singapore Science Centre's chief executive, Dr Chew Tuan Chiong, 51.

He explained that the phenomenon occurs because of the shape of the moon's orbit around the Earth.

'The distance between the Earth and the moon varies because the moon's orbit around the Earth is an ellipse. It follows an oval-shaped path, not a round one,' he said.

'When the moon is closer to the Earth it looks bigger, and conversely, it looks smaller when further away,' added Dr Chew.

The difference between the closest point of the moon's orbit around Earth, known as the perigee, and the furthest point, or apogee, is 50,000km. Full moons at the perigee appear much larger and brighter than regular full moons.

Dr Chew said yesterday's full moon, however, appeared dim from about 8.55pm to 1am because there was a penumbral eclipse.

As the moon was thrown into Earth's partial shadow for a few hours, its brightness was affected.

DIANA OTHMAN