Super Perigee Moon on Sunday 23rd June 2013

On 23rd June 2013 at  5:02 p.m. IST (11.32 a.m. UTC ) moon would reach its monthly fullest phase (i.e Full Moon). But with surprising celestial event involved i.e. Super Moon. The scientific term for the phenomenon is "perigee moon."

Why is it bigger/brighter, importance?  ‘‘Super Moon’ is a situation when the moon is slightly closer to Earth in its orbit than on average, and this effect is most noticeable when it occurs at the same time as a full moon. So, the moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times” Dr. Jim Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

According to earthsky  based on above NASA definition Moon Perigee/Apogee Data for 2013 says “There are three full moons in 2013 that meet the definition of a super moon – May, June and July. But this June 23 full moon is the most super of the super moons! A super-duper moon!”
 
Direction & Time to see: people looking toward East Direction can appreciate this celestial event of Super Moon in the evening on 23rd June starting 6.49 p.m. when moon rises. Best time to watch Moon is when is close to horizon in the evening or on 24^th June Morning when it sets in west.

Percentage of Change: it has been noted "super Moon,” compared to normal full moon are as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter. Similar would be the moon visible on 23 June 2013.

           

When is last time it occurred? Distance?   The last such coincidence occurred on 6^th May 2012 (at 3,56,953 km) producing a full Moon that was almost 36 km close than what will be visible on 23rd June 2013 (it will be at 3,56,989km). It has been note that Super Moon occurs with duration of 1 year, 1 month, and 18 days. So next Super Moon will be on August 10, 2014.

Will SUPER MOON cause have any adverse effects? Does Moon really effect humans?

NASA release dated 2^nd May 2012 says “The majority of modern studies, however, show no correlation between the phase of the Moon and the incidence of crime, sickness, or human behavior.  The truth is, the Moon is less influential than folklore would have us believe. 

It's true that a perigee full Moon brings with it extra-high "perigean tides,".But according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration this is nothing to worry about. In most places, lunar gravity at perigee pulls tide water’s only a few centimeters (an inch or so) higher than usual. Local geography can amplify the effect to about 15 centimeters (six inches)--not exactly a great flood”

Also read http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=lunacy-and-the-full-moon  Lunacy and the Full Moon. Does a full moon really trigger strange behavior?

What else can be seen in next few days :         

Planet Saturn: Further since April 28 Saturn is visible in the evening skies rising at East after Sunset. Planet Saturn can be spotted as non-twinkling bright object if one looks at East Direction after Sunset.

Planet Venus:  Since over a Month Planet Venus is visible in the evening skies immediatelyafter Sunset. One can spot it in the east direction as non-twinkling bright object.  

Notes : 

i. Moon:  Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. Moon as observed from earth appears at a new location/in background of different patterns of stars every subsequent night (often near a new star/planet). This happens because of Moon’s revolution around earth. Moon revolves around Earth in Elliptical orbit (oval shape).

ii. Apogee and perigee are terms which indicate the distance between the earth and the moon. Apogee is when the moon is furthest from the earth, and perigee is when it is the closest

iii. Minimum-Max. Distance of Moon from Earth: The distance between the Moon and the Earth varies from around 356,400 km to 406,700 km during its oval shaped orbit wherein at one point of time every month moon will be closer (known as perigee) or farthest point (apogee). The average distance between earth and moon is 3 84,800 km.  

iv. Difference of Distance - Monthly Perigee-Apogee: On an average the difference of distance between Moon (at Perigee point) and (at Apogee) is 50,000 km.

v. Farthest Moon of the Year 2013: On 7^th July Moon will be at farthest point from Earth (apogee) at 4,06,491 km. Which if one see’s apogee data for this year is the maximum distance at apogee (when it is farthest) to be travelled by Moon in 2013 from earth.

iv. Star or Planet: For differentiation its important to remember that as seen from earth though planets shine, they don’t twinkle/blink unlike stars.  This is because planets merely reflect the sunlight whereas Stars radiate the light they produce.