alien12 Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Copied from the Daily Telegraph Each month the Moon orbits the Earth in an oval-shaped path, and on December 12 it will move past it around 28,000km closer than average. The unusual feature is that this will coincide with a full moon, which will make it appear 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than most full moons this year, on Friday night. Astrologists say the next encounter with a moon this close and full will not be until November 14 2016. To make the sight even more spectacular much of Britain should be treated to a phenomenon known as the Moon illusion. This is an optical illusion in which the Moon appears larger near the horizon than it does while higher up in the sky. Psychologists have tried to explain this as a trick of the eye, as the landscape on the horizon appears to make the Moon loom much larger, an effect that disappears as the Moon rises above the horizon. Another astronomical treat that could be seen over the weekend is the annual Geminid meteor shower, one of the year's best displays of shooting stars. Up to 100 meteors an hour can fly across the sky. The meteors, which are easy to spot with the naked eye, appear to shoot out from the constellation Gemini, hence their name, but they can be seen all over the sky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father McPot Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Thanks for that. Hopefully I'll remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archangel Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 This would have to happen at the coldest point in the year wouldnt it... Thanks ill be up on the mountain tonight... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DtH Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 venus ( i think) was unusually bright last night..did anyone else notice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father McPot Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 venus ( i think) was unusually bright last night..did anyone else notice? Aye, it has been lately. Usually see it best around sunset and sunrise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danklord Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Sweet! I did notice it was quite big last night too. I'm staying in with a pizza and laying on me back under the skylight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solarchild Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 venus ( i think) was unusually bright last night..did anyone else notice? Yup! As FAther McPot says its best seen around sunset and sunrise. Also if you look down and to the right of it you can see Mars on a clear night- smaller orange star. I think there was a triangle made with the moon and these two last week, but they are still really visible at the mo, when its not to cloudy obv. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father McPot Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Bloody rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerband Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 venus ( i think) was unusually bright last night..did anyone else notice? Did notice an amazingly bright star last nite... must have been bright for me to notice. So it was Venus eh? Thank you And will be watching tonite as well, thank you.... Ms Powerband :wink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alien12 Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 Yes Ms Powerband that would have been Venus with Jupiter just below and to the right, they have been in the sky for a couple of weeks now. Its too cloudy where I am to get any pics of the Moon tonight ..what a bummer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleDee Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 and typical.....its p*****g it down ere.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TightBud Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 (edited) i just popped down the beach.....but its too cloudy where i am, it dont look much bigger TBH hope that cheers you up anyway Edited December 12, 2008 by TightBud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martian Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Hi All. Are you sure its Venus???? Not wanting to be telling anyone's grandma how to suck eggs, But Venus can only be seen for a while, after sunset, and before sunrise, due to it being one of the two Inferior Planets. It is the brightest planet though. Smoking and astronomy is a smashing combo. See ya. Martian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martian Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Hi All. It seems there is every likelyhood that it was indeed Venus. It is apparently at its greatest elongation, or was yesterday actually. see ya All. Martian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 If you look at the moon right now then the bright thing to the left of it is venus its there right now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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