Lunar Perigee & Apogee
Nick Anthony Fiorenza
Copyright © 2009 Nick Anthony Fiorenza, All Rights Reserved
Full Moon Lunar Perigee 2009
The Lunar Perigee is when the Moon is closest to the Earth during its monthly orbit. The Lunar Apogee is when the Moon is furthest from Earth. Generally, the Moon looks about 14% larger at its perigee compared to its apogee. The Moon looks additionally larger when it is on the horizon due to atmospheric distortion. Thus when a Full Moon occurs during a Lunar Perigee, the Full Moon will look extra larger, and even more so when it rises on the eastern horizon at sunset, even spectacular with the right atmospheric conditions.
All times GMT
Lunar Synchronizations: Yellow
The Full Moons occurring from Dec 31, 2009 (which is also an eclipse) through March 30, 2010 synchronize with the Lunar Perigees, and thus will look extra large. Later in the year, the New Moons will start to synchronize with the Lunar Perigees, of course we do not see New Moons, but they will energetically be closer to Earth's magnetosphere.
Related Articles:
The Energetics of a Full Moon: The Full Moon's Passage through Earth's Magnetotail