The Moon has an elliptical orbit around the Earth and this means it sometimes passes close to the planet and sometimes further away than normal.
In astronomy, these two phases are known as apogee (furthest) and perigee (closest).
The Moon’s orbit isn’t simply elliptical; it’s also eccentric – to put it another way, it is slightly wobbly!
As a result, the distance between the Earth and the Moon varies. Tonight, Friday the 12th of December 2008, the Moon will not only be in perigee but will be closer to Earth than it has been in 15 years.
It is also worth noting that the perigee and the full moon do not often coincide. Tonight’s full moon perigee is unusual.
If the weather allows then witnesses will see the brightest and biggest full moon of the year. In fact, it will appear to be about 14% larger and 30% brighter. Tides will also be affected.
In Pure Spirit
Are you excited by tonight’s unusual perigee? Tonight seems like a fantastic time for any rituals or spells which reflect the moon’s beauty and strength. Deities associated with the moon are likely to be influential tonight as well.
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