Super Dark Skies on Tap

The Moon's orbit around Earth is imperfect.  It is not a nice, neat circle but elliptical with one side closer to Earth than the other.  As a consequence, the distance between the earth and the moon varies.  The closest approach (perigee) for 2021 is December 4 - a distance of 221,702 miles.  The furthest approach (apogee) was May 11 - a distance of 252,595 miles.  On average, the distance is about 238,000 miles.

When the moon is at perigee (closer) you have a Super Moon because it will appear larger.  When the moon is full and is at perigee you have a Full Super Moon and with everything larger and up to thirty percent brighter you are witness to a spectacular night sky phenomenon.  

When there is a  New Moon around the closest point to Earth it is known as a Super New Moon.   These Super New Moons, like any other new Moon, are invisible as a consequence of the new Moon’s passage between the Earth and the Sun.  The resulting dark skies will provide several evenings beginning tonight for observations of the heavens without the interference of moonlight. With colder temperatures there is also less humidity. A cold sky is a clearer sky. 

And there are no mosquitoes.

The next Super New Moon, along with the accompanying dark skies, will be around December 4 when the Geminid meteor shower becomes active.  

So, stay-tuned for that and fingers-crossed for good viewing beginning this evening.