Supermoon over Maine – © 2012 Karina Chapman
Last night, May 5, 2012, we were treated to the sight of a “Supermoon”–a new term coined recently which simply means that the full moon lies at its perigee, or closest approach to Earth. That “closest approach” still put it 221,802 miles away last night.
People all over the world were super excited about the Supermoon, but in fact it wasn’t that that much larger than it normally is. However, as a former 8th grade science teacher whose focus and passion was the moon for a full third of the school year every year, I’ll take any excuse I can to get people to go out and look at how breathtakingly beautiful it really is.
If you want to see a REALLY Supermoon, you’ll have to wait until December 6, 2052, when the moon will make its closest approach to the planet of the 21st Century, when it will be a mere 221,469 miles away…just 133 miles closer than last night.
Facts about the Moon you might not know (but that my students could tell you):
- The shadows on the Moon are not clouds: they are called maria, and they are large “oceans” or “seas” (mare in Latin) made up of what were once massive lava fields.
- The back side of the moon looks very different. For a draggable, QuickTime image, go here.
- There are very few maria on the far side–1% on the back, as opposed to about 30% on the front.
- Scientists think the back side is far more cratered because it was exposed to incoming debris from space, while the side we see was somewhat shielded by Earth.
- We only ever see one side of the Moon, because it is locked into orbit with us so that one full rotation of the moon takes one month (see the YouTube below for an explanation).
- Last night we had a full moon; in two weeks, we’ll have a new moon.
- A new moon is when the sun is on the other side of the moon from us, and is lighting the back side. That means the side we see will be dark, so we can’t see it. That’s when it looks like there is no moon in the sky.
- It takes four weeks for the Moon to go from full, through to new, and back to full again.
- Only 12 men have ever set foot on the Moon–two men each on the six missions (Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17). We all remember what happened to Apollo 13…
- Those 12 men are Neil Armstrong (first), Buzz Aldrin, Pete Conrad, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, David Scott, James Irwin, John Young, Charles Duke, Eugene (Gene) Cernan, and Harrison Schmitt.
- The name of the lunar debris and dust that flies out of an impact crater is called ejecta.
- You can make really awesome craters by filling a pan with flour and some salt mixed together (I use a cup of salt and several cups of flour, making it a couple inches deep). Then dust it heavily on top with either cinnamon or cocoa powder, so that the surface is completely covered. Drop various objects into it, from varying heights, and watch the ejecta patterns and rays that result. The salt will act like small rocks, so look carefully for where the ejecta falls by looking for the salt grains. Note: this works really well on black lab tables!
The Supermoon hiding behind trees – © 2012 Karina Chapman
As promised: a YouTube demonstration of why we only ever see one side of the Moon:
Hi! Cool Supermoon shots too..:-) thanks for stopping by my blog and taking the time to leave a comment..apprciated..oh! and thanks to your daughter as well……….thats my view too…..:-)
Posted by 4otomo | May 6, 2012, 10:53 amTank you, too!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 11:08 amThat’s great! We didn’t get to see it in Massachusetts; it was too cloudy.
BTW…we have a similar taste in books: I loved The Devil in the White City and also Animal, Vegetable, and Miracle. The Omnivore’s Dilemma is on my Paperback Bookswap list…haven’t read it yet. Loved The Secret Garden when I was young. Guess I’ll have to check out the Elegant Gathering of White Snows…chances are I will like it!
Posted by sued51 | May 6, 2012, 11:47 amI hope you do! The first chapter is a bit hard to get through but then it gets really good.
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 12:01 pmthanks for the lesson, i love the make your own craters part, MJ
Posted by mjspringett | May 6, 2012, 1:22 pmIt’s loads of fun. Just expect a mess!
That’s the best part!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 7:03 pmThank you for the moon facts and video. My son’s favorite subject is science. I will share these facts with my son. And beautiful photo!
Posted by Claudia | May 6, 2012, 1:40 pmThank you. I hope your Son finds it interesting!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 7:03 pmBeautiful photos … glad you got to see it, interesting reading too!
Posted by reb | May 6, 2012, 6:22 pmThank you!
It’s always fun to look at the moon. I want to try shooting it again next month. It’ll still be plenty big–”Supermoon” is kind of a misnomer because it isn’t significantly bigger.
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 7:06 pmno, only closer … we have clear skies tonight, and it’s still pretty full …we’ll see
Posted by reb | May 6, 2012, 7:09 pmGo for it! I’m done for this month. I don’t feel like staying up again!
lol!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 8:03 pmKarina, got your comment about Trieste! It floored me!
. Be seeing you. Gem
Supermoon? Who could see it for the fog!!! Thanks for the photo. Better than nothing
Posted by firstandfabulous | May 6, 2012, 8:22 pmWow, I can’t believe it. Trieste!!
Bummer about the fog, but it wasn’t really that much bigger than normal. It was a bit bigger-looking but not that huge.
I’m going to write more on your page…!!!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 8:24 pmI am mightily impressed by all this display of moon science. You obviously understand all these facts which I “know” because I “learned” them — but do not understand in the slightest. And your moon shots are great!
Posted by Touch2Touch | May 6, 2012, 9:23 pmThank you so much.
The Moon is so fascinating. There’s so much neat information about it… I loved teaching that every year. My favorite subject!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 9:46 pmThank you for visiting and liking my post. Your moon photos are stunning!
Peace,
Alexandria
Posted by SimplySage | May 6, 2012, 9:57 pmAnytime, Alexandria. I was glad to find your site!
And thank you as well for the nice compliment.
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 6, 2012, 9:59 pmGreat shot, Karina! Plus, I can count on you to give me a good photo and an informative article to go with it. Thanks!
Posted by Jeff Sinon | May 6, 2012, 10:48 pmAw, thanks for the sweet comment, Jeff!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 7, 2012, 9:38 pmGreat photos Karina, particularly like the one with it peeking through the trees.
Posted by Rob | May 7, 2012, 7:03 amThank you so much! I appreciate it!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 7, 2012, 2:58 pmInteresting stuff, indeed. Uh, you’ve given speeds and stuff for California. What would they be like in South Africa? (I bet you get similar questions for real.)
Posted by colonialist | May 7, 2012, 5:58 pmI have had kids ask me if you see the other side of the moon when you’re in Australia!
Posted by AlohaKarina | May 7, 2012, 6:52 pm