Theres a big moon on the rise

[sunnybob]

We are 2 hours ahead of the UK, and the moon has just come up.
Its BIG!
Its bigger than big.
Tomorrow is full moon, and the moon is at the closest it ever gets to the earth, and this only happens once every 70 years, so its unlikely you will have seen or will see it this big again.

If your skies are any where near clear, its worth braving the cold tonight and tomorrow.

 

[No skills]

Oh.. was expecting Kim carcrashian swim suit pictures.

 

[sunnybob]

Thats called desensiting that is.
Modern folk, huh.

Bright enough to read a book outside if it was in large print.

 

[No skills]

 

[bugbear]

This supermoon is indeed the biggest for 70 years, but it's only very slightly bigger than a normal supermoon (which is, I suppose a contradiction in terms!)

It will be lovely to look at, but (at least to the naked eye), an indistinguishable one will be along in roughly 18 months.

Photographic note; all those lovely images with HUGE moons are achieved by a simple trick of perspective and long zoom lenses.

BugBear

 

[sunnybob]

My Canon DSLR with a 200mm zoom couldnt get anywhere near it. Even on a tripod and a timed delay shutter the pics arent even worth transfering to the computer.

But its great here because we have completely clear skies.

 

[NazNomad]

I've just measured it... It's the same size it was last month.

 

[sunnybob]

Thats because youre too far north. Youre not allowing for the angle of the dangle.

 

[timbo614]

My Canon DSLR with a 200mm zoom couldnt get anywhere near it.

Nor my old S8000 Finepix .. just a white glare

It reasonably clear here in Surrey.

 

[lurker]

The moon is brighter than you think
Also it's moving quick too
Your camera is averaging the scene and the image is burnt out
You need to spot meter
Have a look around on the Internet to find out how to do it
A 200mm should get a decent image

 

[skipdiver]

We have just driven home through Lincolnshire and the moon looked magnificent as it rose above the horizon as the sun set. Very mesmeric but it's now cloudy and raining and can't see anything of it.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I saw just as it was coming over the horizon. It was indeed magnificent.

 

[Stanleymonkey]

My Canon DSLR with a 200mm zoom couldnt get anywhere near it.

Nor my old S8000 Finepix .. just a white glare

It reasonably clear here in Surrey.

Have just driven home from Guildford - moon was looking very impressive

 

[YorkshireMartin]

Cant see a bloody thing, thanks to a thick blanket of cloud. Have my 10" SC at the ready but an hour setting it up to see cloud just isn't cricket.

 

[bugbear]

A 200mm should get a decent image

To give some idea of how small the moon is:

The Moon has angular diameter of 1/2°; a 1200mm zoom on a normal 35mm gives a 2° diagonal angle of view.

BugBear

 

[AES]

Well, all you so-and-so s going on about the lovely big moon. I'm with YorkshireMartin (in spirit that is) - can hardly see a bloody thing here except a weedy little glow through all the clouds.

They say it'll get better middle of the night, before moon set time, but blowed if I'm staying up for that - it's a bit parky too (about +1C presently).

AES

P.S. sunnybob: If the next "really, really big" one really is not until 70 years in the future I shall miss that one too!

 

[sunnybob]

I've had advice from people who have taken good shots of the moon, I dont claim to be a "photographer", which is just as well as I got the iso speeds completely wrong. I was using 1600 when I should have used 100.
Armed with three seperate sets of settings, I shall try again tonight.

 

[whiskywill]

the moon is at the closest it ever gets to the earth, and this only happens once every 70 years,

Partially true. The moon is at its closest to the earth (its perigee) once a month but only when the full moon coincides with this is it known as a full supermoon. The next full supermoon is in November 2034.

We can also have new supermoons.

 

[sunnybob]

Hah, thats what I get for believing radio 4.

 

[AES]

whiskywill, you wrote:

QUOTE: The next full supermoon is in November 2034. UNQUOTE:

Does this mean I MIGHT stand a chance of seeing it (yob 1945)??????????

Will you sign up to that "YES" please?

AES