Super Moon

The Night Before the SUPER Moon

It's the last day of winter.  Temps in the 50's.  We've got a full moon tonight, and it's super close to Earth.  The news media's calling it the "SUPER MOON!"  For the technical explanation, click here. 

But it's not SUPER here along the Lower Chippewa River in Wisconsin.   Our view of the moon is obscured by clouds tonight - and rain is in the forecast.  

Most of this winter's snow is gone now.  But... Sven Sungaard (our tv weather reporter) says snow will be back in the forecast next week.  (The groundhog was right).

I went out last night to take a photo of the moon - the day before it became totally SUPER.  It really was brighter and bigger than the "normal" full moon - which is great for songbirds who migrate at night.  

Go outside and watch - and listen to them this spring!

Moon Shine on a Frigid Night

Three astronomical phenomena have combined to create another exceptionally bright "moon" tonight.

The moon is the closest it will get to the earth this month - so it looks bigger by 7%.  Tomorrow night the earth will be the closest it will get to the sun this month - so the sun's reflection on the moon is brighter.  And the moon is so high in the sky this time of year, it's like a giant spotlight. 

I just had to go outside and take a photo.

It didn't take long for me to realize the danger in that.  According to my favorite WCCO Weatherman - Chris Shaffer - the temperature outside (with the wind chill) is -24º.   I had to be careful about frost bite.  (Tripod, camera, gloves, hat, scarf, coat, boots)

I'm back indoors now - with this special first-person report:  it is very bright tonight; the moon is so high that I didn't spot it right away; and it's very, very, very cold outside.

I continue to be amazed when I think of the heat halo around the little chickadees on nights like this.  Even though they can drop their body temperature 15 degrees, there can be nearly 100-degrees difference between their core body temperature and the air temperature an inch from their feather coats.

There's a "Blewe" (Blue) Moon Tonight

© Molson Coors  

 I don't need an astronomer to tell me the moon has been "brighter" the past couple of nights.  It's been so bright, I've had trouble sleeping.   Yah, I know - I could install window shades.   But I like to wake up the "natural" way with sunlight streaming through my windows. 

This morning the moon was so bright, it woke me up at 4am.   Rather than fight it, I got up, made myself a latte and went to my trusty MacBook Pro to find out what's going on.

I was relieved to find out it wasn't just me.  According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, the moon really is brighter. 

An astronomer at the Adler Planetarium explained what's up with the moon:

1.   There's one day each year when Earth is closest to the sun - which makes the reflection of the sun on the moon brighter.  In 2010, it's Jan 2nd.

2.  There's one day each month when the moon is closest to Earth, which makes the moon appear to be 7% larger.  In 2010, it's Jan 1st.

3.  When the moon is full, it rises to a point nearly opposite the sun.   Because the sun is low on the horizon during the winter, the full moon rises particularly high.

More reflection + bigger appearance + higher in the sky = brighter moon.  Makes sense to me.

But wait, there's more "moon" news today:  there's a "blue moon" tonight.

No, the moon doesn't actually turn blue (unless there's a major dust or smoke event - a fire or volcanic eruption).  It has to do with an old ecclesiastical calendar (click here for the somewhat complicated explanation).

Here's the simple explanation:  a "blue moon" is the second full-moon in a calendar month.   It occurs on New Year's Eve every 19 years.  Thus the adage referring to a rare event as "once in a blue moon."

The use of the word "blue" in association with this calendar event may have its origins in the Old English word "belewe" or "blewe" which means "to betray."  Perhaps a reference to "betraying" the usual perception of one full Moon per calendar month.

So I have something new to celebrate tonight.   In addition to New Year's Eve and my wedding anniversary, there's a rare and, some say, auspicious calendar event:  a Blue Moon.