June 23, 2013 Super Moon

A reader of this blog asked for me to say a few words about the June 23, 2013 "super moon" that is coming up in less than a week.  The official name of a "super moon" is a "full perigee moon".  A super moon occurs when the Moon is at its closest approach to Earth during a calendar month.  Thus there is a super moon every month of every year.  The Moon's orbit about the Earth is slightly elliptical, so sometimes the Moon is closer to the Earth and at other times it is farther away.  You don't hear much about super moons unless the point of closest approach to the Earth occurs when the Moon is in its full stage.

This month, June 2013, is a bit more special in that the Moon is at its closest approach of all of 2013.  This explains the reason for the "news" about it.  

That's the science behind a super moon.  Unfortunately there is a misconception that goes along with the super moon.  Super moons are often falsely advertised as being MUCH larger than regular moons.  This is the misconception.  Yes, the super moon is a bit larger in the sky because it is closer to the Earth, but it's not that much closer and not that much bigger in the sky.  In fact, unless you are a regular observer of the Moon in the sky, you probably won't notice any difference.

Another misconception is that super moons are a different color (bluish/purplish get passed around) than a regular full Moon.  Again, not true.  

I encourage you to go out and take a look at this super moon, but don't expect anything spectacular.