Monday 7 May 2012

Perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun System

You'll find better pictures of the so-called  'Supermoon' elsewhere (e.g. at the Guardian) but here's how it looked just after the firework display following the flower festival in Larnaca. Picture taken without the aid of a tripod or safety net, hence camera shake!
Note for the astronomically unaware: The moon is actually the same size as it usually is. It just seemed to be bigger as it is temporarily a bit closer to the earth as a result of its elliptical orbit. At least I hope that's the explanation, otherwise it's Goodnight, Vienna!
Some enterprising chap on the seafront was charging people €1 a peep to look through his big telescope at the moon. There weren't many takers but this was perhaps because of his low-key marketing which consisted of the words 'Moon €1' scrawled on a piece of cardboard.

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