MadSci Network: Astronomy
Query:

Re: When during the year is the moon at its brightest

Date: Fri May 9 12:32:00 2003
Posted By: Nicolle Zellner, Researcher, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics
Area of science: Astronomy
ID: 1048093083.As
Message:

The brightness of a full moon depends on its distance from Earth and not necessarily on its height in the sky. When it is closest to Earth, the Moon is at perigee and it appears larger, so it reflects more light, making it brighter.

I don't think a full moon is actually brighter in winter or summer, but instead, appears brighter in the winter because it's in the night sky for 12 hours in the Northern Hemisphere, much like the Sun is in the summer. Therefore, winter moons that are high in the sky make them appear extra bright. In fact, it's the distance from Earth that determines the Moon's brightness (and I don't think there's anything special about the Moon's distance this time of year).

The Alachua Astronomy Club has information about the brightest full Moon events in 1999 and 2000, and Sky and Telescopes has information on the 2003 May 15 total lunar eclipse.


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