Super Moon on Saturday Sky!

Super Moon on Saturday Sky!

An exceptional celestial treat is in store for sky gazers as ‘supermoon’, the biggest and brightest full moon of the year which will be closest to Earth in 18 years will be seen in the night sky on Saturday. According to space scientists, the ‘supermoon’ will be closest to the Earth in 18 years tomorrow and will appear to be the biggest and brightest of 2011.

Astrologer Richard Nolle was first coined the term ‘supermoon’ in 1970 referring a situation when the moon is slightly closer to the Earth in its orbit than average, which is 90 per cent or more of its closest orbit, and the moon is a full or new moon.

Saturday’s full moon will be around 10 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter compared to other full moons during the year. Tomorrow, the moon will be only 3,56,577 km away from the Earth, the closest while at the full moon phase in 18 years. Earlier, there were supermoons in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005.

Regular situations of full moons coinciding with the moon’s closest point to Earth in fact happen after about every one year, one month and 18 days when it is about 3,63,104 km away from the Earth. This is because the moon’s orbit is an ellipse with one side 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other. In the language of astronomy, the two extremes are called ‘apogee’ (far away) and ‘perigee’ (nearby).

At the closest, our natural satellite moon lies roughly 3,56,630 km from the Earth compared to its average distance of 3,84,800 km from the planet.

A number of misconceptions that has been worrying to the common public that it will have an effect on climate patterns on Earth. Some people connect the lunar perigee or supermoon with catastrophe, like earthquakes, Tsunamis and volcanic eruptions.

However, Space and Astronomy scientists have informed that they have studied the moon for decades and have not at all found it to cause these natural disasters.

Further, NASA has launched a world-wide programme titled as Sun-Earth Day on 19^th March 2011, comprising a series of programs and events that occur throughout the year, culminating with a celebration on or near the spring equinox. This year's theme, "Ancient Mysteries -- Future Discoveries," opens the door to a much deeper understanding of the sun and its impact across the ages.

 The regular daily and monthly rhythms of Earth's only natural satellite, the Moon, have guided timekeepers for thousands of years. Its influence on Earth's cycles, notably tides, has also been charted by many cultures in many ages. More than 70 spacecraft have been sent to the Moon; 12 astronauts have walked upon its surface and brought back 382 kg of lunar rock and soil to Earth.

 For Saturday, GSC has arranged special day-long activity and outreach programmes for school students, teachers and the general visitors that includes interactive sessions among the experts, hands-on activities on moon exploration, screening of Moon Mission film in auditorium, Walking on the Moon in IMAX 3D and the evening moon observation in the sky through telescopes.

 As an awareness and understanding about this celestial event, Gujarat Science City in association with Gyan Vani has conducted a live phone-in programme on Gyan Vani on the theme ‘Super Moon’, broadcasted on 105.6 MHz FM on 15^th March 2011 between 9.00 am to 10.00 am as well as 9.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

Gujarat Science City, working under the aegis of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat, has taken a great initiative to design innovative and interesting programmes and activities that address the implications of history of science, technology and mathematics for education, linkages between science, technology and society, health, nutrition and gender issues.

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