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Font Resize [/align]Big moon a sight to see
Astronomy ยป Moon at its closest point to Earth in its orbit[/align]
Tribune and wire services
[/align]Updated:12/12/2008 08:51:34 PM MST[/align]
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The biggest full moon the Earth has seen since 1993 is hanging above Salt Lake City tonight. A clear sky has made it easy to check out the glowing satellite as it travels across a backdrop of stars.
Tonight, the moon is at perigee, its closest distance to the Earth during its orbit around our world. Because it is so close to the Earth, the moon appears larger.
The moon's average distance from the Earth is about 238,855 miles (384,400 km). Tonight it is just 221,560 miles (356,567 km) away.
It will be 14 percent bigger in the sky and 30 percent brighter than some other full moons during the year, according to NASA.
The moon's proximity to Earth also will affect tides, pulling the tide higher than normal between
[/align][/align]an inch and six inches.
Every month, the oblong lunar orbit brings the moon closer to Earth, but this year the moon is full just four hours after hitting perigee. That means it will be 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than any other full moon this year. The full moon at perigee won't occur again until 2016.
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