View Full Version : Big Big Moon !!!
Britain will tonight be treated to a spectacular show when the full Moon will appear bigger to the naked eye than it has done for several years.
The Moon should - cloud permitting - give the illusion of a massive glowing sphere when it rises above the horizon shortly after 10.30pm.
Astronomers said the illusion would be caused partly due to the recent passing of the summer solstice. The Moon is at its lowest point in the sky and the Sun is at its highest.
This factor has been boosted by the Moon being at a particular point in a 18.6-year cycle of "tilted" orbits around the Earth, but scientists are quick to point out that the show is merely an optical illusion. It is thought to be associated with the human eye's interpretation of the horizon. The moon will look smaller when it has risen fully, but will actually be the same size to the naked eye.
Robert Massey, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, said: "The further north in the UK that you are the more dramatic the effect is likely to be. It will appear unusually big. Of course it isn't really, but that is the optical illusion."
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13375781,00.html
Wicked_and_Crazy
22-06-2005, 21:13
its was pretty good last night. We had a good view with a few light clouds around that at times bisected the moon to make it look pretty amazing
__________________
doesnt this mean its closer?
"This factor has been boosted by the Moon being at a particular point in a 18.6-year cycle of "tilted" orbits around the Earth."
Raistlin
22-06-2005, 22:41
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2005/07/8.gif
Raistlin
22-06-2005, 22:46
Sorry, I just have no class whatsoever :)
paulyoung666
22-06-2005, 22:49
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Wicked_and_Crazy
22-06-2005, 22:49
Sorry, I just have no class whatsoever :)
you wiped!
Sorry, I just have no class whatsoever :)
You said it. :knock: :D
Anyone able to see it I have mostly clear skies here but still unable to spot the moon.
paulyoung666
22-06-2005, 22:56
Anyone able to see it I have mostly clear skies here but still unable to spot the moon.
it is only just rising now , give it half an hour or so if you cant see the horizon low level :)
Where is it???
It is hiding! We have a clear sky here but I cannot see it anywhere!!!
:(
Anyone able to see it I have mostly clear skies here but still unable to spot the moon.
Us in Mancland will not see it yet, the further north you are will get the better show.
There is always one............................................... .......................
and the name is................................................ ...........................
Same here, I think someone has stolen it!
I know I normally see it every night and the one night i wish to view it, it ain't there.
Chimaera
22-06-2005, 23:00
I saw it about 10 minutes ago and it was HUGE!!! A sort of pinky-orange colour as well - very nice and well worth a look!
Wicked_and_Crazy
22-06-2005, 23:03
its was definately up this time last night
__________________
I saw it about 10 minutes ago and it was HUGE!!! A sort of piny-orange colour as well - very nice and well worth a look!
should tell paul to duck when your trying to look out of the window ;)
dilli-theclaw
22-06-2005, 23:04
I just popped my head outside and I can't see it :(
Flubflow
22-06-2005, 23:07
Where is it???
It is hiding! We have a clear sky here but I cannot see it anywhere!!!
:(
Look south-ish. (rising slightly east of south)
It will be very low on the horizon right at the moment but will rise later. However, the higher it gets the less the effect of optical illusion of the moon appearing to be large. Ideally, you need to be on a hill.
EDIT:
Download a demo version of Skymap if you like...
http://www.skymap.com/smp_eval.htm
It's cool.
Raistlin
22-06-2005, 23:14
There is always one............................................... .......................
and the name is................................................ ...........................
Raistlin :D
There is always one............................................... .......................
and the name is................................................ ...........................
I wonder where Punky is...
Anyone able to get some images all I am seeing is clear skies.
paulyoung666
22-06-2005, 23:18
wont be long now i reckon , i am in a built up area , so i might have to wait a bit yet :(
Doing my head in I wanna see it :(
someone post some pictures asap.!
I just popped my head outside and I can't see it :(
Try looking in the mirror next time ;) :angel:
Flubflow
22-06-2005, 23:26
wont be long now i reckon , i am in a built up area , so i might have to wait a bit yet :(
From where we are, the moon will only rise to an altitude of about 6 degrees above the horizon.
For London viewers its about 9 degrees and Edinburgh about 4 degrees. (according to Skymap).
paulyoung666
22-06-2005, 23:30
From where we are, the moon will only rise to an altitude of about 6 degrees above the horizon.
For London viewers its about 9 degrees and Edinburgh about 4 degrees. (according to Skymap).
looks as though i am going to struggle to see it then :(
it is well low in the sky...
if it gets above the houses over yonder and i am still sober, I will get some pics...
Anyone who can see it please get us some good images of it PLEASE!!
Anyone who can see it please get us some good images of it PLEASE!!
I will do my best....
Can't see nowt at the moment. :(
Thanks rep's in it for all.
I am clouded in right now and I am a major space buff, so unamused at missing it in real life :(
Im afraid this was the best I could do, whilst leaning off my balcony to avoid trees, lol
Errrrr...just how big is it supposed to be..I think it must be hidden right behind the new house next to me( :fit: ) and I'd have to walk someway to get a completely clear view of the sky.It being past midnight I'm not considering doing that at all. :(
Florence
23-06-2005, 00:15
need a camera with a zoom lens.. any one in manchester the moon is missing:(
Sorry anout the quality, I should have played about with the shutter and apeture settings but the carlsberg was winning... ;)
It's just starting to appear here, but it's still partly obscured by some trees. So far, it doesn't look *very* big. Strange colour though...
(No camera btw, so sorry, no pics...)
mrlipring
23-06-2005, 00:19
I'll nip out and see if i can get any...
This is what I should have done... sorry, an old one...
Night all..
:angel:
It is supposed to be happening for 3 nights in a row, so if you can't see it tomorrow you should get another shot.
A good explanation for it: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/20jun_moonillusion.htm?list96425
Flubflow
23-06-2005, 00:28
It's just starting to appear here, but it's still partly obscured by some trees. So far, it doesn't look *very* big. Strange colour though...
(No camera btw, so sorry, no pics...)
I think the chance of viewing it at its best tonight is gone. Ideally it was probably when it was rising above the horizon into view and when we still had some glow from the setting sun on the other side of the sky. The only way to have seen that easily would have been to have an uncluttered view, i.e. on a hill or the top of a multi-storey block.
I observed it last night. Very low down and shining beautifully.
It really is a wonderful sight. From the top of my roof just lookin gout over the city it is so peaceful when everyone stops and clouds just float by.
The moon in very bright indeed. I'l see if I can get a pic up.
OK, so my attempt earlier was rather embarrasing...
So I tried again.
Hope these are better for ya...
OK I am really going to bed now!
:p:
Sleep well all!!!
Thats great Tutfus !
What type of camera do you use ?
I really should have gone round to my Grandads house. He's got several massive telescopes in his lounge. He loves all things astronomical.
I really need a better zoom on my camera.....
have a go here tomorrow (tonight) if it's not cloudy
http://www.met-office.gov.uk/weather/europe/uk/webcam/index.html
Thats great Tutfus !
What type of camera do you use ?
I really should have gone round to my Grandads house. He's got several massive telescopes in his lounge. He loves all things astronomical.
I really need a better zoom on my camera.....
I took them with a Fuji S5000 at max zoom, 1/1000 sec exposure...
:)
Ah, thats the SLR digital one isnt it ?
Great pics indeed !!!
I finally found it at 2.30 this morning when I went for a wander to the bathroom.
Unfortunately it was just above my opposite neighbours house and I could only see it through frosted glass.Now I know WHERE to look and if it is clear I may try getting my camera to work.I wasn't going to wander about the streets in my dressing gown.. ;)
Not really, it just looks like one.
Wish I had a DSLR though...
I didn't see this thread yesterday so I missed it but I will have a look out tonight :tu:
hahaha, how did I manage to get the most pitiful pictures of the bunch?
Im using a Sony DSC-P12 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AKGX4/026-7226208-0734868) is it me, or the camera?
(http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AKGX4/026-7226208-0734868)
Here is my picture.....................
Mike
Here is my picture.....................
Mike
Thats a wicked pic Mike, what camera / lens have you got by the way?
Here is my picture.....................
Mike
Wow Mike that is fantastic what camera did you use?
zoombini
23-06-2005, 12:59
I think he might have been on Thors spaceship when he took that one.
Nice pic, I wonder exactly how disinterested the kids would be in seeing the moon?
Thats a wicked pic Mike, what camera / lens have you got by the way?
Nikon coolpix 4500 attached with an adapter to a telescope!
Mike
Nikon coolpix 4500 attached with an adapter to a telescope!
Mike
Ahh that will explain it then!!!
I keep toying with the idea of getting a TCON-17 lens for mine so I can get in closer for this kind of stuff...
Where did you get the adapter for telescopes from as I have the same Nikon camera and would like to have a go linking it to my grandad's telescope.
Its a scopetronix adaptor I think
http://www.scopetronix.com/
or so I gather from here: http://www.backyard-astro.com/equipment/accessories/coolpix/coolpix.html#Anchor-35882
Coool. Thanks, I'l check those links out.
Wow!!!
Chck out some of the samples on those sites!!!
The one of the sun was wicked and the moon ones on the backyard astro are just stunning!
I thought this whole moon enlargement thing was an optical illusion, caused by our eyes'/brain's perception of the sight. So doesn't that mean taking photos is pretty useless?
Sadly I can't see it, since there aren't any flat areas nearby to get a clear view of the horizon. :(
I thought this whole moon enlargement thing was an optical illusion, caused by our eyes'/brain's perception of the sight. So doesn't that mean taking photos is pretty useless?
Sadly I can't see it, since there aren't any flat areas nearby to get a clear view of the horizon. :(
Who knows?
Still looked pretty damn cool to me!
I just wish i had a setup like Mike!!! ;)
I thought this whole moon enlargement thing was an optical illusion, caused by our eyes'/brain's perception of the sight. So doesn't that mean taking photos is pretty useless?
That is correct:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020130.html
This was taken from the following link that Punky posted earlier
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/20jun_moonillusion.htm?list96425
Gah!Now I knew where to look but it became overcast and then we had a granny of a thunderstorm.Fussing about all night...So no pictures.Rain forcast for later and it's cloudy so I guess no pictures. :erm:
I was out in the garden last night looking for the moon but with no luck :(
Last night it was hard to spot. Only around 1am did I see it fully, but it definately looked back to its small size.
Macca371
24-06-2005, 10:05
Damn it, I really wanted to see it when it was back. I was saw it really big in the sky and it scared the living hell out of me.
First time I spotted it, did make me jump myself.
vBulletin® v3.8.11, Copyright ©2000-2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.