Super Perigee Moon - March 19, 2011
Super Perigee Moon. Image by NASA/Bill Ingalls
The full moon is seen as it rises near the Lincoln Memorial, Saturday, March 19, 2011, in Washington. The full moon on March 19 is called a super perigee moon since it is at its closest to Earth in 2011.
The last full moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March 1993.
A perigee moon is visible when the moon's orbit position is at its closest point to Earth during a full moon phase, making the so-called super moon look larger than normal.
The next big event on the astronomical calendar is the winter solstice, which takes place on December 21, 2011.
The next perigee moon is scheduled for November 14, 2016.
Published March 21, 2011
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