Two Events in the Skies for May 2012

Lynn · #1 03-05-2012, 02:16 AM

Hello

May 2012 Super Moon

Sky watchers take note: The biggest full moon of the year is due to arrive this weekend.

The moon will officially become full Saturday (May 5) at 11:35 p.m. EDT. And because this month's full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth — it will also be the year's biggest.

This month's full moon is due to be about 16 percent brighter than average. In contrast, later this year on Nov. 28, the full moon will coincide with the moon's farthest approach, offering a particularly small and dim full moon.

The unusual appearance of this month's full moon brings no reason for alarm, scientists say. The slight distance difference isn't enough to cause any earthquakes or extreme tidal effects, experts say. However, the normal tides around the world will be particularly high and low. The last supermoon occurred in March 2011.

To view this weekend's supermoon to best effect, look for it just after it rises or before it sets, when it is close to the horizon.

An annular solar eclipse will take place on May 20, 2012 (May 21, 2012 for local time in Eastern Hemisphere). A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the Sun to look like an annulus (ring), blocking most of the Sun's light. An annular eclipse appears as a partial eclipse over a region thousands of kilometer’s wide.

Lynn

Avilucis · #2 03-05-2012, 10:25 PM

Thanks Lyn, the moon has been beautiful lately.

I've been reading about the moon on nasa's site, it's good for an astrology student to do that, it gives insight about what the moon represents in a chart.

There have been a lot of dead fish washed up, and birds falling from sky again in places around the world recently, it could be something to do with the approach of the moon. There were similar things happening last year at this time and before.

#3 04-05-2012, 12:35 AM

Hi! I hope this is not a silly question. Will this be seen all over the world? I am in Southeast Asia, about 12 hours from EST, I think. I am not sure. If I will see it it may be a different time but will I see it at all?

Morpheus · #4 23-05-2014, 02:28 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636865/Look-Researchers-spot-massive-fresh-crater-half-size-football-field-Mars.html

Researchers have discovered the largest fresh meteor-impact crater ever spotted on Mars, which ocurred in 2012, and just recently discovered by analysing before and after photos that were captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

One wonders, did Mars take a hit for us?

The resulting impact crater spans half the length of a football field, and first appeared in March 2012.