On March 19, 2011, our Moon was dubbed Supermoon because it appeared 14% larger and 30% brighter than normal as it reached its closest approach to Earth (perigee) while being approximately full. This happened 18.6 years ago (Saros cycle). In east Tennessee, the Moon was veiled by thin clouds; however, it was still captured with a digital camera at the Tamke-Allan Observatory (Rockwood, TN). The weather station there framed the Moon. (Photo courtesy: David E. Fields, observatory director).
This wonderful picture stimulated an astronomy-related poem, “Moonweather,” which appears in Issue 3 of the fine literary venue, Curio Poetry, in February 2012.
More information about Supermoon can be found on Space and NASA’s Science News.
John C. Mannone
