The Year's Closest Full Moon

Posted by Georgene A. Bramlage Sep 6, 2006

This September's full moon resides about 50,000 kilometers - or 30,000 miles - closer to Earth than it did at at the 2006 most distant full moon in February.

This full moon is also special for another reason. It will skim through the Earth's dark shadow tonight. This partial lunar eclipse marks the only time this year the darkest part of Earth's shadow will fall on the moon's face.

Everyone around the world tonight will see a full-looking moon. People in Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa - but not the Americas - will also see the partial lunar eclipse.

By the way, many of us will be tempted to call this moon the Harvest Moon. But this year the official Harvest Moon - the full moon closest to the September equinox - will come in October.

More information about ful moons and in particular this September one can be accessed at Earth & Sky.