This year the Winter Solstice, December 22 -- the longest night of
the year, will be extremely special. This is because the solstice will
coincide with a Full Moon.
Ah, but not just any Full Moon. The Moon will be within a few hours
of its perigee, its closest point to the Earth. This will make the
Moon appear to be about 14% bigger than usual.
However, it is also only ten days from the earth's perihelion, its
closest point to the Sun. Since the Moon shines with reflected
sunlight, then the moon will appear 7% brighter than usual.
These events occurring together are extremely rare. This is probably
the biggest, brightest moon of the Millennium as well as its last.
Whatever you do, get out and look at the sky. you will never see a
Moon like this again, even if the world does not end seven days
later.
December 22
Winter solstice is at 2:44 a.m. EST
The moon is at perigee (221,614 miles from Earth), 5:55 a.m. EST
Full moon is at 12:31 p.m. EST
Prof. Phoolan Prasad
Chairman
Department of Mathematics
Indian Institute of Science
Bangalore - 560 012
Fax - 91-80 - 3341683
Telephone: Off-91-80-309-2264,2265, Res-91-80-3371039
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