Is It Just Me, Or Is The Moon Tiny Right Now?
KPIX 5 Morning Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales answers the questions you never get to ask on-air.
Q: Why does the moon look so tiny right now?
A: Last night, I was out for an evening run, when I looked up in the sky and noticed the moon was nearly full. But I took note that it wasn't one of those terrifically huge ginormous moons, rather, the moon appeared rather distant and small for so early in the evening.
I did a little research and discovered tonight's full moon is the "smallest full moon of the year"! It is referred to as the Micro Moon or Mini Moon. Why will tonight's full moon appear do distant? Because it is! Tonight's full moon will be 30,000 miles farther away from Earth than will the year's closest full moon, the full "Super Moon or Harvest Moon." That terrifically, spectacular event will occur on September 28.
Looking ahead, as previously mentioned, this September 28 will be the date of "Super Moon or Harvest Moon" and it will also be the setting or a total eclipse of the moon (which by the way, it too has another name some call, a "Blood Moon Eclipse").
Although the full moon can be seen around the world (depending on weather conditions), our clocks read differently in different time zones. Here in the Bay Area, today's (or tonight's) full moon turned exactly full at 10:05am. But we could not see it, because even though our skies are crystal clear, it is daylight hours.
I was thinking…Countless studies have been conducted to log if crime rates rise during full moons (whether Micro Moon or Super Moon) or if people have "lunatic" behavior (derived from lunar?) during a 100% waxing gibbous moon. Do you believe the full moon affects you? Do you have more energy or less? Are you agitated or amorous? What are your thoughts?
For future blogs ideas or pictures, please email me at: Gonzales@kpix.cbs.com
Have a terrific "Mini Moon" day!
