Hunter's Moon in 2007 resides between Aries and Pisces
Print Me Email to FriendTonight's Sky for Thursday, Oct 01 2009
The Full Hunter’s Moon tonight also happens to be the largest, closest full moon of 2007. Watch for the moon to rise in the east around sunset, climb highest in the sky around midnight and set in the west around sunrise. Like any full moon, tonight’s moon will be out from dusk till dawn.
As the moon beams above your eastern horizon this evening, it’ll be residing at the border of the constellations Aries the Ram and Pisces the Fishes. The moon’s glare, however, will make it difficult if not impossible to see these constellations’ stars. Nonetheless, we label the three stars that make up Aries the Ram’s head: Hamal, Sheratan, and Mesarthim, and the alpha star of Pisces the Fishes: Alrescha. These stars will be much easier to see on a moonless night.
Meanwhile, the largest full moon of the year insists on grabbing the spotlight. This extra close full moon, in fact, will be throwing its weight around and making a big splash along the ocean shorelines. Look for extra buoyant high tides over the next few days.
Closest full moons recur in regular cycles. The 14th full moon after tonight’s full moon will usher in the closest full moon of 2008.
