Betwixt the Sea and Sky

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Summer Moon Illusion

The lowest-hanging full moon in 18 years is going to play tricks on you this week.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/20jun_moonillusion.htm?list749866

June 20, 2005: Sometimes you can't believe your eyes. This week is one of those times.

Step outside any evening at sunset and look around. You'll see a giant moon rising in the east. It looks like Earth's moon, round and cratered; the Man in the Moon is in his usual place. But something's wrong. This full moon is strangely inflated. It's huge!

You've just experienced the Moon Illusion.

Sky watchers have known this for thousands of years: moons hanging low in the sky look unnaturally big. Cameras don't see it, but our eyes do. It's a real illusion. This week's full moon hangs lower in the sky than any full moon since June 1987, so the Moon Illusion is going to be extra strong.

What makes the moon so low? It's summer. Remember, the sun and the full Moon are on opposite sides of the sky. During summer the sun is high, which means the full moon must be low. This weeks full moon occurs on June 22nd, barely a day after the summer solstice on June 21st--perfect timing for the Moon Illusion.

Damn it! I missed the summer moon illussion tonight by about thirty minutes or so. I saw it yesterday however, and it was inspiring, but an eerie almost blood red color and quite huge on the horizon. I turned 33 today and its sort of a special year for me, a year of changeing to different paths for new areas of understanding and knowledge. I'm happy to see that the moon tonight is a bright brilliant gold. They say that us Cancers are ruled by the moon and I've always been more of a night person and have always found more comfort under the moon and stars than the blinding and draining light of the summer sun. I was born at about 8:30 pm just as the sun was setting and consider that time the start of my new journey and the end of my old. I'm glad the stars and moon seem to be smiling at me tonight and the night air is unussually cool and comforting.

Well!! Happy Birthday, Wisdom!

I thought the moon has been looking a bit bigger than normal the last couple of days. And there have been several occurances of unusual colorings to both the sun and moon the last few weeks or so. Lucky for me there have not been anymore such strange encounters. Of course, stepping outside my front door to find a possum sitting on my front steps was interesting. Little critter had no fear. Didn't even hiss at me. He was a youngster. Kinda cute when they are young really. Anyway, I'm rambling again. :)

Happy Birthday, again, Wisdom. Many blessings to you.

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