Stargazing Supermoon Monday: Closest Approach in 70 Years

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The discussion centers around the supermoon event on November 14, 2016, which marked the closest approach of the moon in 70 years. Participants debate the visibility differences between supermoons and regular full moons, with some asserting that the size difference is noticeable while others argue it requires advanced equipment to discern. The conversation also touches on the timing of future supermoons, with the next one anticipated in 2034, and the implications of lunar perigee and apogee on the moon's appearance. Additionally, there are inquiries about the relationship between the moon's phases and its distance from Earth. Overall, the thread highlights both excitement for astronomical events and a desire for clarity on lunar phenomena.
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Janus said:
In this image, yes it is. However, Take two quarters and put one 8 feet away and the other 9 feet away and you will have a good representation of how the moon appears to the naked eye at perigee and apogee. Now if these quarters are against a plain background, and far enough apart that you can't directly compare them side by side, you would be hard pressed to notice the difference in their apparent size.

Betcha a silver quarter I can see the difference. The lunar angular diameter can vary from 29.43 arc minutes at apogee to 33.5 arc minutes at perigee—over 4 minutes of arc -- or an increase of around 14% in apparent diameter or 30% in apparent area . Of course, that is according to WikiLeaks-a-pedia...and they got it from NASA. They wouldn't lie to us would they? :))
 

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