Closest and largest full moon since March ‘93
(Credit: David. Some rights reserved.)
Friday, December 12, 2008.
Today, at 9:48 p.m. Universal Time, the moon will be closer to Earth than it’s been in the last 15 years.
The moon will be less than 357,000 kilometers – or 222,000 miles – away. After today, the moon won’t come this close to Earth for another 8 years.
Today is also the full moon. And the next time the moon comes this close – on November 14, 2016 – it’ll be full again.
Extra close moons happen when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest point to Earth for the month, an event called ‘perigee’ by astronomers. And in case you’re wondering, the moon’s phase does influence its closest distance for each month.
Consider that when a quarter moon happens at perigee – and is closest to Earth – the moon is at right angles to the Earth and sun – so that keeps the moon slightly farther away.
But when a full moon coincides with perigee, the sun, Earth and moon make a line in space. The moon’s orbit stretches closer to Earth. So the coincidence of perigee and full moon brings the moon closer to Earth than at any other phase. By the way, the sun’s varying distance also influences the moon’s distance. Because we’re closest to the sun around New Year’s Day, the closest full moon perigees always occur at the beginning or the end of the year.
Almanac:
Full moon: December 12, 2008 at 16:37 Universal Time
Moon at perigee (356,566 kilometers): December 12, 2008 at 21:48 Universal Time
Extreme Perigees:
The last time the moon was less than 356,400 kilometers distant was on January 15, 1930 (356,397 kilometers) and the next time will be on January 1, 2257 (356,371 kilometers), p. 39, More Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, by Jean Meeus
it’s unbelievable how u guys figure all this info,. we sure do like to look for it
I dont mean to be ignorant but what time will that be in England? thanks, love this website by the way! I’ve just seen venus and jupiter! amazing!
Lucky for you, Emma. In England, Universal Time is the same as your clock time. On Dec. 12, the full moon is at 4:32 p.m. and the moon is at perigee – closest to Earth – at 9:48 p.m. your time.
Bruce
I live in Spain after leaving England and thanks to your site I am able to identify so much.The skies here are fantastic and because we
are close to the mountains there is very little pollution.I look forward to the forthcoming events and 9 times out of 10 see them.Thanks for a magnificent site,keep up the good work.
What time will that be for me in Illinois to see the moon at perigee – closest to the earth?
Paul & Ysabel,
Paul, thank you for the encouraging comments!
Ysabel, the moon is at perigee at 3:48 p.m. (December 12) in your Central Time Zone. However, the moon rises in the east at about sunset, so the moon will be below your horizon when at perigee.
Bruce
Your sight is fantastic. What time will that be for the events on Dec 12th in Nairobi, Kenya? Thank you for your good work. Its Amazing!
Topistar,
The clock time in Nairobi, Kenya, is 3 hours ahead of Universal Time.
Bruce
I have been told that full moon- perigee combination may trigger seismic / volcanic activities. Does there really exists any correlation in these events.
Rajesh,
I don’t know what kind of correlation exists between full moon perigees and seismic/volcano activity. On page 32 of Guy Ottewell’s 2008 Astronomical Calendar, it is said, “These perigean spring tides may cause coastal flooding, especially if they happen to be accompanied by storms; they MAY (my emphasis) even trigger earthquakes and volcanoes.” Meanwhile, you might enjoy reading this article from National Geograpic News Can the Moon Cause Earthquakes?
Bruce
are you please able to tell me when we can see it in New Zealand my son loves looking for the moon.
many thanks
erin
Hello, I don’t want to sound like a jerk, but I’ve just noticed a lot of people asking the same question, essentially, and that is: What time will this occur in “my area?” Mr. Mclure was kind enough to point out to the man from England that the universal time is the same as greenwich time, thus all one needs to do is look at a timezone map, such as the one here – http://www.worldtimezone.com/datetime.html – and future questions of this sort shall cease to exist. Thanks for the informative site, by the way =)
Erin & Patrick,
Astronomical almanacs generally give the time of sky events in Universal Time, the standard clock time at Greenwich, England. As Patrick says, a time zone map enables you to convert Universal Time to the clock time in your time zone. In New Zealand, the clock time is 12 hours ahead of Universal time, so the the full moon falls on December 13, at 4:37 a.m. and perigee also falls on December 13, at 9:48 a.m. in that part of the world.
Bruce
Will this cause people to act worse than they usually do on a full moon?
This is a great website – so if this happens again in 2016 how long will we have to wait for the one after that???
I figure we are 10 hours ahead in Australia so this will be in the morning of Saturday 13th that I will need to check this out – just as well it’s not Friday the 13th that would be freaky!!!
Thanks for the moon info. I teach science to 8th graders and I use your info almost daily. thanks again.
Harry
Thanks for the moon info. I teach science to 8th graders and I use your info almost daily. thanks again.
Harry
Just wondering what time this will occure in Kentucky? Im pregnant and wanting to deliver. Do you think that this will have an effect?
Just wondering what time this will occure in Kentucky? Im pregnant and wanting to deliver. Do you think that this will have an effect?
Just wondering what time this will occure in Kentucky? Im pregnant and wanting to deliver. Do you think that this will have an effect?
So strange, I just decided now to look up when that last time the moon was closest to the earth.
It was in the early 1990’s and I was painting an incredible piece of art— a painting that was both mysterious and spiritual to me, of a sunflower goddess with the full moon in the 3rd eye, which reached to 10 feet high. I did not know that the moon was full as I painted it— and it has forever influenced me and my life.
And now your site is stating that tommorrow is a full moon in the same phase? Incredible synchronicity— I guess that I must naturally feel this influence of the moon? In March of 1993— I was going through a similiar financial struggle. The sunflower goddess smiling and reassuring almost mocked my state, a huge change that shifted my life. Many folks commented on this piece and you can actually feel energy from it when standing at a certain spot. This lead to me learning about Reiki and other healing arts and opened a pathway to my spiritual awareness.
Hmmm. Now what of this Perigee on December 12th???
So strange, I just decided now to look up when that last time the moon was closest to the earth.
It was in the early 1990’s and I was painting an incredible piece of art— a painting that was both mysterious and spiritual to me, of a sunflower goddess with the full moon in the 3rd eye, which reached to 10 feet high. I did not know that the moon was full as I painted it— and it has forever influenced me and my life.
And now your site is stating that tommorrow is a full moon in the same phase? Incredible synchronicity— I guess that I must naturally feel this influence of the moon? In March of 1993— I was going through a similiar financial struggle. The sunflower goddess smiling and reassuring almost mocked my state, a huge change that shifted my life. Many folks commented on this piece and you can actually feel energy from it when standing at a certain spot. This lead to me learning about Reiki and other healing arts and opened a pathway to my spiritual awareness.
Hmmm. Now what of this Perigee on December 12th???
So strange, I just decided now to look up when that last time the moon was closest to the earth. It was in the early 1990’s and I was painting an incredible piece of art— a painting that was both mysterious and spiritual to me, of a sunflower goddess with the full moon in the 3rd eye, which reached to 10 feet high. I did not know that the moon was full as I painted it— and it has forever influenced me and my life.
And now your site is stating that tommorrow is a full moon in the same phase? Incredible synchronicity— I guess that I must naturally feel this influence of the moon? In March of 1993— I was going through a similiar financial struggle. The sunflower goddess smiling and reassuring almost mocked my state, a huge change that shifted my life. Many folks commented on this piece and you can actually feel energy from it when standing at a certain spot. This lead to me learning about Reiki and other healing arts and opened a pathway to my spiritual awareness.
Hmmm. Now what of this Perigee on December 12th???
So strange, I just decided now to look up when that last time the moon was closest to the earth. It was in the early 1990’s and I was painting an incredible piece of art— a painting that was both mysterious and spiritual to me, of a sunflower goddess with the full moon in the 3rd eye, which reached to 10 feet high. I did not know that the moon was full as I painted it— and it has forever influenced me and my life.
And now your site is stating that tommorrow is a full moon in the same phase? Incredible synchronicity— I guess that I must naturally feel this influence of the moon? In March of 1993— I was going through a similiar financial struggle. The sunflower goddess smiling and reassuring almost mocked my state, a huge change that shifted my life. Many folks commented on this piece and you can actually feel energy from it when standing at a certain spot. This lead to me learning about Reiki and other healing arts and opened a pathway to my spiritual awareness.
Hmmm. Now what of this Perigee on December 12th???
So strange, I just decided now to look up when that last time the moon was closest to the earth. It was in the early 1990’s and I was painting an incredible piece of art— a painting that was both mysterious and spiritual to me, of a sunflower goddess with the full moon in the 3rd eye, which reached to 10 feet high. I did not know that the moon was full as I painted it— and it has forever influenced me and my life.
And now your site is stating that tommorrow is a full moon in the same phase? Incredible synchronicity— I guess that I must naturally feel this influence of the moon? In March of 1993— I was going through a similiar financial struggle. The sunflower goddess smiling and reassuring almost mocked my state, a huge change that shifted my life. Many folks commented on this piece and you can actually feel energy from it when standing at a certain spot. This lead to me learning about Reiki and other healing arts and opened a pathway to my spiritual awareness.
Hmmm. Now what of this Perigee on December 12th???
So strange, I just decided now to look up when that last time the moon was closest to the earth. It was in the early 1990’s and I was painting an incredible piece of art— a painting that was both mysterious and spiritual to me, of a sunflower goddess with the full moon in the 3rd eye, which reached to 10 feet high. I did not know that the moon was full as I painted it— and it has forever influenced me and my life.
And now your site is stating that tommorrow is a full moon in the same phase? Incredible synchronicity— I guess that I must naturally feel this influence of the moon? In March of 1993— I was going through a similiar financial struggle. The sunflower goddess smiling and reassuring almost mocked my state, a huge change that shifted my life. Many folks commented on this piece and you can actually feel energy from it when standing at a certain spot. This lead to me learning about Reiki and other healing arts and opened a pathway to my spiritual awareness.
Hmmm. Now what of this Perigee on December 12th???
So strange, I just decided now to look up when that last time the moon was closest to the earth. It was in the early 1990’s and I was painting an incredible piece of art— a painting that was both mysterious and spiritual to me, of a sunflower goddess with the full moon in the 3rd eye, which reached to 10 feet high. I did not know that the moon was full as I painted it— and it has forever influenced me and my life.
And now your site is stating that tommorrow is a full moon in the same phase? Incredible synchronicity— I guess that I must naturally feel this influence of the moon? In March of 1993— I was going through a similiar financial struggle. The sunflower goddess smiling and reassuring almost mocked my state, a huge change that shifted my life. Many folks commented on this piece and you can actually feel energy from it when standing at a certain spot. This lead to me learning about Reiki and other healing arts and opened a pathway to my spiritual awareness.
Hmmm. Now what of this Perigee on December 12th???
I am anxious to know when the full moon will be for Northern Arizona. I can’t wait! Thanks for your insight—it is appreciated!
I am anxious to know when the full moon will be for Northern Arizona. I can’t wait! Thanks for your insight—it is appreciated!
this is great info.i knew abt the biggest brightest moon of the year but didnt know it was the same 15 years ago and will be same again in 2016. what is the best time to look for it in india?
To everyone,
No matter where you live worldwide (except for Antarctica), you can watch the moon from dusk till dawn on the night of December 12-13. Watch for the large, brilliant moon to rise over your east-northeast horizon at sunset – or shortly thereafter. The moon climbs to its highest point in the sky around midnight and hovers your west-northwest horizon at morning dawn.
Here are the distances of some close full moon perigees:
1993 March 8: 356,528 kilometers
2008 December 12: 356,566 kilometers
2016 November 14: 356,509 kilometers
2018 January 1: 356,565 kilometers
Bruce
Just like the other guys, I would like to know (if possible) the exact time for San Jose del Cabo Mexico 23.09 north – 109.42 west
Thanks a lot
Just like the other guys, I would like to know (if possible) the exact time for San Jose del Cabo Mexico 23.09 north – 109.42 west
Thanks a lot
It is sad how people do not care about this any more. I remmber this in 93. Alot of my friends if you would take time out from your busy life and just look up! It might bring some happyness to your life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is sad how people do not care about this any more. I remmber this in 93. Alot of my friends if you would take time out from your busy life and just look up! It might bring some happyness to your life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Exact time of full moon in Costa Rica
Thanks
TO ANYONE WANTING TO KNOW THE FULL MOON TIME IN YOUR TIME ZONE:
On December 12, the moon is full at 16:37 (4:37 p.m.) Universal Time and is at perigee – closest to Earth – at 21:48 (9:48 p.m.) Universal Time. To convert Universal Time to the clock time in your time zone, please look at this time zone map, then make the necessary adjustments.
For example, most of Mexico and Costa Rica lodge in the Central Time Zone, so you must subtract 6 hours to convert Universal Time to your clock time. In Arizona, where it’s Mountain Time, you subtract 7 hours.
India isn’t quite so straight forward, as the time zone there isn’t an even number of hours ahead of Universal Time. At Calcutta (Kolkata) India, for instance, you add 5.5 hours to Universal Time.
Bruce
So looking forward to this and hoping the rain moves out and the skies clear in time to view it. Traditionally, when there are any really cool celestial happenings, it will rain or at a minimum be cloudy – keeping fingers and toes crossed that doesn’t happen tonight.
I’m ovulating today, with hopes of getting pregnant! Wish me luck on such a monumental day!
Gosh, Bruce, I can’t believe people are still asking that same question…I thought you and I cleared that up. Other than that, there sure are a lot of duplicate entries, which could use some erasing.
Gosh, Bruce, I can’t believe people are still asking that same question…I thought you and I cleared that up. Other than that, there sure are a lot of duplicate entries, which could use some erasing.
I’m intrigued, will this have an effect on the weather? We are forscast very heavy rain for the next two days in the UK..could they be linked?