Hi; Moon we are back!!! [Archive] - Kung Fu Magazine Forums

GeneChing

05-02-2012, 05:36 PM

It'll be the flower moon and Cinco de Mayo (a day for nachos!)

May 2, 2012
The Biggest Supermoon in Years is Coming Saturday Night (http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2012/05/the-biggest-supermoon-in-years-is-coming-saturday-night/)

This Saturday evening, take a look at the night sky and you might see something special. The moon will make its largest, most stunning appearance of the year—an event known to scientists as “the perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system” and to the popular skywatching public simply as the “supermoon.” As one of the most spectacular supermoons in years, the moon will appear 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than when it is on the far side of its orbit.

Why does the moon sometimes appear larger, and sometimes smaller? The answer lies in the fact that its orbit around Earth is elliptical, so its distance from us varies—it ranges from roughly 222,000 to 252,000 miles away each month. On Saturday, the moon will reach what is known as the perigee, coming as close as it ever does to the Earth, just 221,802 miles away. At the same time, it will be a full moon, with the entirety of its Earth-facing surface illuminated by the light of the sun.

This supermoon will appear especially large because the exact moment of perigee will neatly coincide with the appearance of a perfectly full moon. The full moon will occur at 11:34 p.m. EST, and the perigee will occur at 11:35. During last year’s supermoon on March 19, 2011, for comparison, the perigee and full moon were 50 minutes apart.

“The timing is almost perfect,” says NASA, according to the Washington Post. AccuWeather’s astronomy blogger Daniel Vogler notes that a look through recent data reveals no more closely-timed (and therefore bigger) supermoons.

Apart from providing a sight to behold in the night sky, the moon’s perigee also has a tangible effect on Earth: It causes higher than normal tides. Because tides are driven by the moon’s gravitational effects, a closer moon means that the oceans will be pulled more than usual towards the satellite. In most places, this will mean a tide that is an inch or so higher than usual, but geographical factors can multiply the effect up to around six inches.

There has long been speculation that the moon’s gravitational effect during its perigee could be the cause of natural disasters, including earthquakes and volcanic activity. In particular, many suggested this link following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami off the coast of Japan in March of 2011. However, the devastating quake occurred over a week before the supermoon, and studies have shown no strong evidence for increased frequency of high-intensity seismic activity during the moon’s perigee.

There are more concrete examples, though, in which supermoons may cause problems. In particular, flooding during storms may be made more severe because of the higher tides. In 1962, the coincidental arrival of a powerful storm with the moon’s perigee inundated the entire Atlantic coast of Cape Cod, causing 40 deaths and $500 million in property damage.

On Saturday, assuming no damaging storms or floods are at your doorstep, just hope for a clear night and take a look outside. The moon will appear larger and brighter than usual all night, but for the most striking views, try to catch it just after it rises above the horizon, when an optical illusion causes it to look larger than it really is, and viewing it through the gases of the earth’s atmosphere can cause the moon to appear yellow, orange or red in color.

GeneChing

07-26-2018, 08:11 AM

So tempted to make an indie Blood Moon thread, just because I love the title 'Blood Moon'

Blood moon will bring about the end of the world on FRIDAY, claim Doomsdayers (https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/blood-moon-to-bring-end-12961472)
Biblical prophecy suggests the end of the world is just days away - doomsday preachers have claimed
By Grace Witherden
12:25, 22 JUL 2018 UPDATED 12:08, 26 JUL 2018

On Friday, a blood moon is set to light up the sky with an orange glow - but some believe this could be the end of the world.

Doomsday preachers insist some sort of tragic event is set to hit the earth and possibly wipe it out on Friday after the blood moon.

The blood moon prophecy purports to reveal hidden messages in the Christian Bible about the end times approaching.

Christian ministers John Hagee and Mark Biltz first made the theory which suggests the ongoing 'tetrad' - four consecutive lunary eclipses, is the indicator of the end of earth as described in the Bible in Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12.

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12961442.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_A-full-moon-rises-behind-blocks-of-flats-in-north-London.jpg
Experts have dismissed the blood moon prophecy as myth (Image: REUTERS)

The first eclipse in the prophesied tetrad took place on April 15, 2014, and was followed by Blood Moons on October 8, 2014, April 4, 2015 and September 28, 2015.

On Friday the total lunar eclipse - when the moon passes behind Earth and into its shadow - will last one hour and 43 minutes.

The "blood moon" theory is interpreted from the Book of Joel, which says: "The sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes."

A similar passage in the Book of Revelations reads: "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood."

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12961443.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_SWNS_SUPER_BLUE_BLOOD_MOON_03.jpg
The lunar eclipse will last for almost two hours (Image: Paul Gillis / SWNS.com)

But the prophecy has been routinely dismissed by astronomers and other experts as nonsense.

Scientists say the red tinge is due to Rayleigh scattering of sunlight through the Earth's atmosphere.

It also causes the reddening of the sun at sunset.

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12961446.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Super-Blood-blue-eclipse-moon-part-2.jpg
The eclipse will create a red glow in the sky (Image: Splash News)

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article12961451.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_The-January-Blue-Supermoon-Is-Visible-In-The-UK.jpg
A supermoon rises behind St. Paul's Cathedral in January (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Endtime Ministries' Irvin Baxter, who has made a number of spectacularly inaccurate predictions since the mid-1980s, is among those who point to passages in the Book of Joel

He has said: "The Bible teaches that end event is coming just ahead of us now and that will be the greatest prophetic fulfilment in the last 2,000 years."

Even though the myth has been debunked, YouTube is full of videos from doomsdayers predicting the end of the world in just a few days time.

THREADS:
Hi; Moon we are back!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?44620-Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!!)
The Apocalypse is Upon Us (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?57590-The-Apocalypse-is-Upon-Us)

GeneChing

12-05-2018, 11:02 AM

And on a Monday. A 'moon' day. How appropo.

SUPERMOON AND TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE ‘BLOOD MOON’ TO COINCIDE IN RARE CELESTIAL EVENT (https://www.newsweek.com/supermoon-and-total-lunar-eclipse-blood-moon-coincide-rare-celestial-event-1236930)
BY HANNAH OSBORNE ON 12/1/18 AT 5:00 AM

A supermoon is set to coincide with a total lunar eclipse in January—and the rare event will be visible across the U.S.

This is the only total lunar eclipse—also known as a blood moon—of 2019. The last one was on July 27 of this year, and there won’t be another until 2021.

Total lunar eclipses are when the Earth is directly between the Sun and the Moon. This means the Moon is lying in the shadow of Earth. “During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon usually turns a deep, dark red because it is illuminated by light that has passed through the Earth's atmosphere and has been bent back towards the Moon by refraction,” the U.K.’s Royal Museums Greenwich explains. “Dust in the atmosphere blocks out the higher frequency blue light waves, but the longer wavelength of red light comes through.”

The total lunar eclipse, which takes place in the early hours of January 21, is special as it will also be a “supermoon”—a phenomenon where a full moon coincides with its closest approach to Earth, known as the perigee. This makes the Moon appear bigger than normal.

These two events mean stargazers in January will see a “super blood moon.” There was another super blood moon in January 2018. In an interview with Time in July, NASA planetary scientist Rick Elphic said it was unusual to have a total solar eclipse and supermoon fall so closely together: “It’s usually years between lunar eclipses that have supermoons in them,” he told the magazine. “We just happen to be in a seasonal cycle where last year there was one and then this year, there is one and I don’t think there will be another supermoon eclipse for a while.”

https://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/embed_tablet/public/2018/11/29/super-blood-moon.jpg
A super blood moon viewed from Istanbul, Turkey.
CHRIS MCGRATH/GETTY IMAGES

According to timeanddate.com, the total lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America and western parts of Europe and Africa.

Elphic said the best way to see the eclipse is through binoculars: “Telescopes can be useful but overpowering; if you’re using a telescope, you get a close-up view of the moon, but it’s really a much more dramatic thing to see against the night sky with binoculars. That’s your best bet.”

January’s full moon is also known as the Full Wolf Moon, according to The Old Farmer’s Alama. This name as given by Native American and early Colonials as wolves would howl outside villages at night from hunger.

January will be the first of three supermoons. The next two will take place on February 19 and March 21, with February’s being the largest and closest of the trio.

This article has been updated to include more details of the time and date of the total lunar eclipse.

GeneChing

12-07-2018, 09:06 AM

This weekend, China embarks on a historic mission to land on the far side of the Moon (https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/6/18127180/china-national-space-administration-change-4-mission-lander-rover-far-side)
If successful, it will be a world’s first
By Loren Grush@lorengrush Dec 6, 2018, 2:39pm EST

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ubeagKSmkT98cr6gw2F4wyCU_pc=/0x0:2040x1360/920x613/filters:focal(857x517:1183x843):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62638683/Far_Side_Moon.0.jpg
The far side of the Moon as seen from Apollo 16 Image: NASA

Early Saturday morning in China, a rocket will launch, carrying a lander and a rover bound for the Moon. It will mark the beginning of China’s ambitious lunar mission known as Chang’e-4, which will attempt to land spacecraft on the Moon’s far side — the region that always faces away from Earth. No other nation has ever attempted such a feat — which means the mission could catapult China into spaceflight history.

So far, China is among an elite group of three countries that have landed a spacecraft softly on the surface of the Moon. Apart from America’s notable Apollo missions, the former Soviet Union also landed robotic spacecraft on the lunar surface, with the last mission occurring in 1976. In 2013, China entered the fray, putting a lander and a rover on the Moon. That mission, known as Chang’e-3, was part of a decades-long campaign that China devised to study the Moon with robotic spacecraft. Prior to Chang’e-3, the country had put a spacecraft in lunar orbit and had also crashed a vehicle into the lunar dirt. Now, the next step is to visit a part of the Moon that’s never been fully explored.

LANDING ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON IS AN INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING TASK

It’s a significant step because landing on the far side of the Moon is an incredibly challenging task. The Moon is tidally locked with Earth, meaning it rotates around its axis at about the same time it takes to complete one full orbit around our planet. The result: we only see one half of the Moon at all times. This near side of the Moon is the only region that we’ve landed on gently, because there’s a direct line of sight with Earth, enabling easier communication with ground control. To land on the far side of the Moon, you must have multiple spacecraft working in tandem. In addition to the lander itself, you need some kind of probe near the Moon that can relay communications from your lander to Earth.

And that’s exactly what China has. In May, the China National Space Administration launched a satellite called Queqiao, specifically for the purpose of aiding with communications for the upcoming Chang’e-4 mission. After about a month in space, Queqiao settled into a spot facing the far side of the Moon, more than 37,000 miles away from the lunar surface. The satellite is doing circles around a point in space known as the second Earth-Moon Lagrange point. It’s a place akin to a parking spot for spacecraft. At a Lagrange point, the gravitational forces of two bodies (stars, planets, etc) equal out in such a way that a spacecraft stays put in relation to the two entities. At this particular Lagrange point, Queqiao will stay facing the far side of the Moon, allowing communication between the spacecraft and Earth using a large curved antenna.

“Demonstrating that you can communicate and perform roving on the lunar far side using a relay satellite is going to be quite a technological feat, and it’s going to bring a lot of prestige,” Andrew Jones, a freelance journalist covering China’s spaceflight program, tells The Verge.

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wv1zTRjNIs-S20cmoHBYwzgbhPY=/0x0:2040x1360/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:2040x1360):format(webp):no_upsca le()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13607253/GettyImages-960731882-2.0.jpg
A Long March-4C rocket lifts off from the southwestern Xichang launch center carrying the Queqiao (“Magpie Bridge”) satellite in Xichang, China’s southwestern Sichuan province on May 21st, 2018. Photo by AFP/Getty Images

If it all works, China will be getting an up-close view of one of the most tantalizing areas of the lunar surface: the South Pole-Aitken basin. It’s believed that the Chang’e-4 lander and rover will touch down in the Von Kármán crater inside this region, according to Jones, though the exact landing site hasn’t been confirmed. The South Pole-Aitken basin is a large impact crater on the far side of the Moon that’s roughly 1,550 miles in diameter and 7.5 miles deep. It’s thought to be one of the oldest impact sites on the lunar surface, but we don’t know exactly how old it is — and its true age could tell scientists a lot about the early Solar System.

“THE SOUTH POLE-AITKEN BASIN IS EXCEEDINGLY IMPORTANT.”

Most of the craters on the Moon are thought to have formed around 3.9 billion years ago, based on analysis of the lunar rocks collected during NASA’s Apollo missions. Many scientists think these holes occurred during a period of the Solar System known as the Late Heavy Bombardment — a period when a huge number of asteroids smacked into the inner planets. It’s thought this time occurred after most of the planets in our cosmic neighborhood had formed, which is why it’s considered “late” in our Solar System’s development. If the South Pole-Aitken basin is also 3.9 billion years old, it supports the idea that this bombardment happened. If it’s much older than that, it puts a dent in that theory. “This actually helps us understand not just about the Moon, but the whole Solar System,” Clive Neal, an engineering professor at the University of Notre Dame and emeritus chair of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group, or LEAG, tells The Verge. “That’s why it’s important; it’s bigger than the Moon.”

Because of its potential to tell us about our history, the South Pole-Aitken basin has long been a priority target of study. Scientists have proposed sending spacecraft to this region in order to collect samples and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis. “The South Pole-Aitken basin is exceedingly important, and we still haven’t done it because it’s too difficult,” says Neal.

continued next post

GeneChing

12-07-2018, 09:06 AM

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ijkt3kouBiKpe-IYt_VXy54fn7c=/0x0:3600x2025/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:3600x2025):format(webp):no_upsca le()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13607069/38_SPA.jpg
The South Pole-Aitken basin on the Moon Image: NASA/GSFC/University of Arizona

Unfortunately, Chang’e-4 won’t be returning anything to Earth, so it probably won’t be able to tell us the exact age of the basin. But it should learn a few interesting tidbits. The Chang’e-4 rover will be carrying ground-penetrating radar to figure out what the structure of the Moon is like underneath the surface of the basin, which could tell us more about how this area formed. It will also have an instrument designed to figure out what the surface is made of in this region. And it’s carrying a Swedish instrument designed to figure out how particles streaming from the Sun interact with the lunar rocks.

Meanwhile, the lander, which is tasked with carrying the rover to the Moon’s surface, will also be doing science from its landing spot, taking advantage of its location on the Moon. Since these vehicles will be on the Moon’s far side, they’ll be shielded from much of the electromagnetic interference from Earth and don’t have to deal with our planet’s atmosphere. The lander will be studying the space environment and the Universe in low frequencies — something we can’t do from our planet.

“CHANG’E-4 IS A FIRST STEP, AND I’M SURE IT WILL RAISE MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT ANSWERS”

And of course, both the lander and the rover will carry cameras to take detailed images of the lunar surface, just as Chang’e-4’s predecessor, Chang’e-3, did. Much of the Chang’e-4 design is modeled after Chang’e-3, which landed on the nearside of the Moon and told scientists a great deal about an area known as the Imbrium basin. Hopefully, Chang’e-4’s rover will move ****her than the rover on Chang’e-3, called Yutu, which stopped being able to travel after about a month.

While it’s definitely unique, Chang’e-4 is just one step in the ladder of China’s decade-long Chang’e mission plan (Chang’e is a goddess of the Moon in Chinese mythology). Following this mission, China plans to launch another robotic mission to the Moon next year called Chang’e-5, which is designed to return samples from the nearside of the Moon. If successful, it’ll be the first time lunar material has been brought back to Earth since 1976. Beyond that, Neal thinks that a sample return from the far side of the Moon is on the horizon. “Chang’e-4 is a first step, and I’m sure it will raise more questions than it answers,” says Neal. “But showing the capability is there to land on the far side and rove, that tells us what’s the next step, and, as I say, robotic sample return would be the logical next step.”

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/X_FFjCVKj6fbHfjHsYPjwJ9cfIk=/0x0:900x506/920x0/filters:focal(0x0:900x506):format(webp):no_upscale ()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13607075/W020180820505077572398.jpg
A rendering of the Chang’e-4 rover Image: Chinese Academy of Sciences

In the more distant future, it’s possible that China hopes to put people on the Moon, though it hasn’t been open about those plans. Jones says that it looks like China is working toward crewed flight, by developing a new huge launch vehicle and concepts for a rocket that can carry people. “There’s no officially government-approved plan to put Chinese astronauts on the moon, however you can see that they are working on the various components that you need,” he says.

Any human missions are still years away, and for now China is focused on Chang’e-4. But as is the case with many of China’s missions, the details surrounding this flight have been hard to come by. We know that the mission is set to launch on top of one of China’s Long March 3B rockets from the country’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center. And thanks to air closure notices, takeoff time is estimated to occur around 1:30PM ET on Friday, December 7th. China may only announce that the mission was a success after the spacecraft is on its way to the Moon, though Jones says we might hear earlier than that from other sources.

“It might be that the first indication we have of launch is that some poor soul near Xichang launch center is woken up thinking there’s an earthquake and complaining about it on social media.” Jones says.

If Chang’e-4 does make it to space, it will spend less than a month traveling to the Moon, likely touching down sometime in the first week of January. If that happens, China will have officially moved into its own elite group, as the only country to visit the side of the Moon we cannot see from Earth.

I hope they have the wherewithal to play some Floyd during the mission. :cool:

GeneChing

12-28-2018, 08:21 AM

Gotta luv something called the 'super blood wolf moon' :D

A 'super blood wolf moon' and five eclipses are among 2019's major astronomy events (https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/27/world/five-eclipses-in-2019-and-super-blood-wolf-moon-trnd/index.html)
By Andrea Diaz, CNN

Updated 7:27 PM ET, Thu December 27, 2018

(CNN)Stargazers around the world, rejoice! The universe is about to give you an exciting astronomical year.

2019 is featuring five eclipses, a rare planet transit, one of the best meteor showers and a super blood wolf moon, but the fun doesn't stop there.
The new year will also bring three supermoons, a blue moon, multiple meteor showers, close approach by the moon and Jupiter and several rocket launches.
Although we would love to talk about all of the extraordinary occurrences, these are our top events to watch for in the sky in 2019:

January 6: Partial Solar Eclipse

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170824164740-17-week-in-photos-0825-super-169.jpg

The new year kicks off with an impressive bang, and no, we don't mean fireworks.

In the first week of 2019, the moon will pass between the Earth and sun to stage a partial solar eclipse, NASA reports. Unfortunately, it will be visible only from northeast Asia and the North Pacific, as it will happen around 8:42 p.m. ET in the United States. Sky & Telescope predicts people will see 20% of the sun covered from Beijing, 30% from Tokyo and 37% from Vladivostok, Russia.

January 21: Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/180131113036-cnnee-cafe-entrevista-superluna-azul-de-sangre-hernandez-oraa-00000006-super-169.jpg

For the first time in three years, the United States will be able to experience a total lunar eclipse. According to NASA, it will be one of the sky's "most dazzling shows," as the moon will be at its closest point to Earth, making the moon appear slightly bigger and a lot brighter, an event that is often referred to as a "supermoon."
But that's not the only thing that will make this eclipse stand out. Total lunar eclipses are often call "blood moons" because when the sun, Earth and moon align, the sunlight that passes through the Earth's atmosphere will appear to turn the moon red. And because lunar eclipses can occur only during a full moon -- and the first full moon in January is known as a "wolf moon" -- many are calling this spectacular event a "Super Blood Wolf Moon Eclipse."
At around 12:12 a.m. ET, people in North and South America, as well as those in western parts of Europe and Africa, will have front-row seats to this show.

May 6: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171213134653-geminids-2017-new-zealand-super-169.jpg

Although we will see multiple meteor showers through the year, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will be one of the best ones we will be able to witness, Sky & Telescope reports.
The Eta Aquarids was created by the dusty debris left behind by Halley's Comet, which flew by Earth in 1986, and although the famous comet won't be entering our solar system again until 2061, its remnants appear in our skies each year. This year is expected to put on quite a show.
According to NASA, we can expect a new moon two days before the meteor shower. The new moon will mean darker skies, which will make it possible for the human eye to appreciate the Eta Aquarids' dazzling show.
Although the Eta Aquarids will be active April 19 through May 26, its peak night will begin around 3 a.m. ET until dawn on May 6, and it's expected to produce as many as 20 to 40 meteors or more per hour.

July 2: Total Solar Eclipse

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/170821161222-21-eclipse-0821-comp-super-169.jpg

Were you able to witness the cool solar eclipse in North America in 2017? Well, now South Asia and South America will enjoy a day of no sun.
In the late afternoon of July 2, a total solar eclipse will occur over southern parts of Chile and Argentina, and parts of the South Pacific. The entire event will take place from 12:55 to 5:50 p.m. ET, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 3:23 p.m., Sky & Telescope reports.

July 16: Partial Lunar Eclipse

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/111210080817-lunar-eclipse-manila-horizontal-large-gallery.jpg

We begin 2019 with a partial solar eclipse, so it's only fair we also get a lunar one. Unfortunately, the United States will not be witnessing this one, either.
South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia will be able to see the full moon dive about two-thirds of the way into the Earth's umbral shadow beginning at 9:31 p.m. UT , Sky & Telescope reports.

November 11: Rare Transit of Mercury

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160509170743-mercury-transits-sun-orig-vstop-00004127-super-169.jpg

For the second time in two years, Mercury will make rare pass in front of the sun, NASA reports.
Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system, passes between Earth and the sun about 13 times a century. The last trek took place in 2016, and for the first time in 10 years, the small planet was visible from Earth.
This year, the transit will begin at 7:34 a.m. ET and last around 5 1/2 hours. It will appear as a black dot across the the face of the sun, and stargazers will be able to see it with the help of a telescope and solar filters.
December 26: Annular Solar Eclipse

2019 closes on a high note with a rare and glorious "ring of fire."

https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/160901125503-annular-eclipse-01-file-0901-super-169.jpg

The annular eclipse occurs when the circumference of the sun shines brightly from behind the moon. This year, the eclipse will begin right at dawn and pass over the Arabian Peninsula and arc over areas of South Asia.
We hope you enjoy these amazing events to the fullest, but remember, NEVER look at the sun during any type of solar eclipse, as it could cause damage to your eyes.

THREADS
Hi; Moon we are back!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?44620-Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!!)
Happy New Year! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?18713-Happy-New-Year!)

GeneChing

01-02-2019, 09:01 AM

The ironic thing here is that I'm not confident that the PRC knows Pink Floyd at all. :o

Chang'e-4: China mission primed for landing on Moon's far side (https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46724727)
By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website
3 hours ago

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/169FF/production/_105017629_gettyimages-1077548522.jpg
GETTY IMAGES
An employee inspects a 1:8 scale model of the Chang'e-4 lunar probe

China is preparing to make the first attempt at landing robotic spacecraft on the Moon's far side.

A static lander and rover are expected to be deployed to the surface in the next day, state media reports.

The vehicles are carrying a suite of instruments designed to characterise the region's geology, as well as a biological experiment.

In recent days, the Chang'e-4 spacecraft had lowered its orbit in preparation for landing.

At the weekend, Chinese state media said the probe had entered an elliptical path around the Moon, bringing the vehicles to within 15km (9 miles) of the lunar surface at its closest point.

Authorities have not specified the exact time of the attempt to touch down in the Von Kármán crater. But a report in the state-run China Daily newspaper suggests Chang'e-4 could begin descending on its thrusters sometime from 2-3 January.

Targeting the far side turns this mission into a riskier and more complex venture than its predecessor, Chang'e-3 - which touched down in the Moon's Mare Imbrium region in 2013. But China's latest moon shot will pave the way for the country to deliver samples of lunar rock and dust to Earth.

Andrew Coates, professor of physics at UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory in Surrey, told BBC News: "This daring mission will land nearly 50 years on from the historic Apollo landings and will be followed in late 2019 by a Chinese sample return mission."

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/DB4F/production/_105034165_moon.jpg
NASA
The near side (L) and far side (R) of the Moon have some key differences

Because of a phenomenon called "tidal locking", we see only one "face" of the Moon from Earth. This is because the Moon takes just as long to rotate on its own axis as it takes to complete one orbit of Earth.

The lunar far side is often referred to as the "dark side", though "dark" in this case means "unseen" rather than "lacking light". In fact, both the near and far sides of the Moon experience daytime and night-time.

But the far side has a thicker, older crust that is pocked with more craters. There are also very few of the "mare" - dark basaltic "seas" created by lava flows - that are evident on the near side.

The Von Kármán crater is located within a much larger feature - the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin - thought to have been formed by a giant impact early in the Moon's history.

"This huge structure is over 2,500km in diameter and 13km deep, one of the largest impact craters in the Solar System and the largest, deepest and oldest basin on the Moon," Prof Coates told me.

And therein lies the scientific interest. The event responsible for carving out the SPA basin is thought to have been so powerful, it punched through the outer layer of the Moon, known as the crust, and down into the zone called the mantle. Researchers will want to train the instruments on any mantle rocks exposed by the calamity.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/C96F/production/_104676515_mediaitem104676514.jpg
CNSA
Artwork: The Chang'e-4 rover will explore a huge impact basin on the far side

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CNSA
Artwork: The lander and the rover were originally built as back-ups for a previous Moon mission

The science team also hopes to study parts of the sheet of melted rock that would have filled the newly formed South Pole-Aitken Basin, allowing them to identify variations in its composition.

A third objective is to study the far side regolith, the broken up rocks and dust that make up the surface.

"The in-situ composition information in particular will be hugely valuable in understanding the formation of the Moon," Andrew Coates commented.

Landing challenge

Up until now, China has followed in the footsteps of US and Soviet missions, carefully building up its capabilities. But this mission marks a first for any space agency.

The rugged character of the far side, with its undulating topography, poses particular challenges for landing the vehicles safely.

Touching down on a jagged outcrop would spell instant mission failure - and be a significant setback for the Chinese exploration programme.

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GETTY IMAGES
A mock-up of the Chang'e-4 lander and rover, on display in Dongguan, China

The selection of the Von Kármán crater as the landing site owes much to the fact that it's flatter than any spot in the South Pole-Aitken basin, according to Chinese scientists.

The descent to the lunar surface is split into six phases. The first three - initial deceleration, quick attitude and reorientation adjustment, and approach - will be controlled from Earth.

For the final three - hovering, hazard avoidance, and slow descent - the lander will take over, assuming autonomous control.

Seeds and eggs

The lander and rover were originally built as back-ups for 2013's Chang'e-3 mission. However, they have received important modifications for the ambitious touchdown on the far side.

Chang'e-4's static lander is carrying two cameras; a German-built radiation experiment called LND; and a spectrometer that will perform low-frequency radio astronomy observations.

Scientists believe the far side could be an excellent place to perform radio astronomy, because it is shielded from the radio noise of Earth. The spectrometer work will aim to test this idea.

The lander will also carry a 3kg (6.6lb) container with potato and arabidopsis plant seeds - as well as silkworm eggs - to perform biological studies. The "lunar mini biosphere" experiment was designed by 28 Chinese universities.

The rover will carry a panoramic camera; a radar to probe beneath the lunar surface; an imaging spectrometer to identify minerals; and an experiment to examine the interaction of the solar wind (a stream of energised particles from the Sun) with the lunar surface.

In an article for the US-based Planetary Society in September, Dr Long Xiao from the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), said: "Chang'e-4 will be humanity's first landed exploration of the lunar far side. The challenge faced by a far side mission is communications. With no view of Earth, there is no way to establish a direct radio link."

Thus, the landers must communicate with Earth using a relay satellite named Queqiao, launched by China in May this year.

Queqiao orbits 65,000km (40,000mi) beyond the Moon, around a Lagrange point - a kind of gravitational parking spot in space where it will remain visible to ground stations in China and other countries such as Argentina.

The lander and rover was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China on 7 December; the vehicles arrived in lunar orbit on 12 December.

The mission is part of a larger Chinese programme of lunar exploration. The first and second Chang'e missions were designed to gather data from orbit, while the third and fourth were built for surface operations.

Chang'e-5 and 6 are sample return missions, delivering lunar rock and soil to laboratories on Earth.

GeneChing

01-03-2019, 09:18 AM

‘New Chapter’ in Space Exploration as China Reaches Far Side of the Moon (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/world/asia/china-change-4-moon.html)

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/01/03/world/03chinamoon-print/merlin_148588656_e0ef7129-f812-4f00-aaf2-8dbc3a2b0835-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp
The Chang’e-4 lunar probe being launched from Xichang, China, last month. CreditReuters
By Steven Lee Myers and Zoe Mou
Jan. 2, 2019

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BEIJING — China reached a milestone in space exploration on Thursday, landing a vehicle on the far side of the moon for the first time in history, the country’s space agency announced.

The landing of the probe, called Chang’e-4 after the moon goddess in Chinese mythology, is one in a coming series of missions that underscore the country’s ambitions to join — and even lead — the space race.

China landed another rover on the moon in 2013, joining the United States and the Soviet Union as the only nations to have carried out a “soft landing” there, but the Chang’e-4 is the first to touch down on the side of the moon that perpetually faces away from the Earth.

The mission “has opened a new chapter in humanity’s exploration of the moon,” the China National Space Administration said in an announcement on its website. The agency said the spacecraft landed at 10:26 a.m. Beijing time at its target on the far side of the moon.

The probe sent back to the earth the first close-up image of the moon’s far side using a relay satellite China calls “Queqiao,” or “Magpie Bridge,” the space agency said in a notice that included images it said were taken by the probe.

Although a latecomer by decades to space exploration, China is quickly catching up, experts say, and could challenge the United States for supremacy in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other fields.

China landed a probe called Chang’e-4 on the far side of the moon for the first time on Thursday. The probe captured never-before-seen images of the moon’s far side.Published OnJan. 3, 2019CreditCreditChina National Space Administration
“This space mission shows that China has reached the advanced world-class level in deep space exploration,” said Zhu Menghua, a professor at the Macau University of Science and Technology who has worked closely with the Chinese space agency. “We Chinese people have done something that the Americans have not dared try.”

China now plans to begin fully operating its third space station by 2022, to put astronauts in a lunar base by later in that decade, and to send probes to Mars, including ones that could return samples of the Martian surface back to Earth.

Though the moon is hardly untrodden ground after decades of exploration, a new landing is far more than just a propaganda coup, experts say.

The crater where the Chinese landed is the oldest and deepest on the moon, so the probe’s discoveries may offer insights into the moon’s origins and evolution. And some scientists suspect that the surrounding basin may be rich in minerals. If exploiting the moon’s resources is the next step in space development, a successful mission could leave the Chinese better positioned.

“This is a major achievement technically and symbolically,” said Namrata Goswami, an independent analyst who wrote about space for the Defense Department’s Minerva Research Institute. “China views this landing as just a steppingstone, as it also views its future manned lunar landing, since its long-term goal is to colonize the moon and use it as a vast supply of energy.”

The place the probe is exploring, Dr. Goswami said, could become a future refueling base for missions deeper into space in the way “navies viewed coaling stations, for purposes of refueling and resupply.”

The Chang’e-4 was launched from Xichang, in southwestern China, early on the morning of Dec. 8 (still midday Dec. 7 in the United States), and it glided into a final, lower orbit around the moon on Sunday, 22 days later.

It landed in the Von Kármán, a flat feature about 110 miles wide that sits inside a larger basin near the moon’s south pole. The main lander will release a 300-pound rover that, barring mishap, will roam the crater. (The rover’s name, the subject of a public contest and vote, has not yet been revealed.)

The instruments aboard the lander and the rover include cameras, ground-penetrating radar and spectrometers to help identify the composition of the area, which was formed by a meteorite. Scientists hope the rocks and dirt in the area will add to the understanding of the moon’s geology.

The lander will also conduct a biology experiment to see if plant seeds will germinate and silkworm eggs will hatch in the moon’s low gravity.

Since the moon prevents direct communications from the far side, China launched a satellite to act as a relay, allowing the rover to bounce signals off it first before they continue back to earthbound scientists.

China’s first lunar lander, the Chang’e-3, completed a journey to the near side of the moon five years ago. Its rover was plagued with problems, though. Within a month, the rover stopped moving after zigzagging 374 feet, though it continued intermittently to transmit photographs and other information, according to Chinese officials, until March 2015.

The fear of losing face over failures, as well as the sensitivity of the technology involved, has made the Chinese government reluctant to discuss its programs in detail, compared with the relative openness of NASA and other space programs. Last April, a Chinese space station, the Tiangong-1, fell to earth after officials lost communication with it.

Ahead of the landing, reports about the Chang’e-4 were fairly sparse — leaving astronomy experts and amateurs scouring for clues.

By contrast, in recent days, American space officials were openly exulting over the success of a NASA spacecraft, New Horizons, in capturing photos of Ultima Thule, a small, icy world four billion miles from Earth.

Some people might ask, “So what?” said John M. Logsdon, an emeritus professor at the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University, but scientists take a different view.

“We learn more about the moon,” Dr. Logsdon said. “It’s going to a place that no spacecraft has ever visited, so it’s true exploration.”

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2019/01/03/world/03china-moon-3/merlin_148698600_e25d039e-47ec-4829-a7a6-4859233f2c71-jumbo.jpg?quality=90&auto=webp
A model of the Chang’e-4 probe at an exhibition in Zhuhai, China. China’s goal is not just to join the space race, but to lead it. Credit Reuters

China’s membership in the elite ranks of space nations has unquestionably been a source of national pride, carefully managed to emphasize the Communist Party’s strong and steady leadership.

China is only the third country — it followed the United States and Russia — to send its own astronauts into space aboard its own rockets. The first crewed mission took place in 2003, and the Chinese have since sent a total of 11 astronauts into space. In 2016, two of them spent 30 days in China’s space station.

In 2018, for the first time, China launched more rockets into space — 38 — than any other country; one launch failed in October. Another moon landing, of the Chang’e-5, is planned for later this year.

Many of the launches last year carried satellites for China’s own version of the Global Positioning System, which already covers China and much of Asia. China hopes its system, called Beidou, will cover the entire globe by next year, and become a commercial and political rival to the American one.

If the International Space Station is decommissioned — the Trump administration has proposed ending federal financing for it by 2025 — the Tiangong-2 could become the only space station in orbit. The International Space Station has played host to astronauts from more than a dozen countries, but China has never been among them.

The Chinese space agency has experienced setbacks, including the failed launch in 2017 of a new heavy-lift rocket, the Long March 5. That caused a ripple of delays that is still being felt. The country’s space budget also remains far smaller than NASA’s.

Even so, conquering space remains a national priority. And the country’s political system, dominated by the Communist Party and President Xi Jinping, means that funding and planning are less vulnerable to political mood swings like those that have affected NASA’s budgets over the years.

“Deep-space exploration requires a tremendous amount of time and money,” Mr. Zhu, the Macau professor, said. “This is not something a small country is able to do.”

He said he was confident that “in several years or a decade, China will gradually catch up from behind and take a leading role in this area.”

Follow Steven Lee Myers on Twitter: @stevenleemyers.

Eric Nagourney contributed reporting from New York. Pink Floyd's Brain Damage has been playing in my head all day.

GeneChing

01-03-2019, 09:29 AM

https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2019-01/processed/change-4-lander_1024.jpg

BREAKING: China Just Made History by Landing a Probe on The Far Side of The Moon (https://www.sciencealert.com/china-makes-history-by-landing-a-probe-on-the-far-side-of-the-moon?fbclid=IwAR20ERhJ-BGEkQYcTzj2E1jS3c84LWRrqu8y_wSlkQ2twj2juFDm3lemn8Q )
DAVID NIELD 3 JAN 2019
It's another momentous day in the history of space exploration: the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has reportedly just landed its Chang'e-4 rover on the far side of the Moon, marking the first time we've been able to explore this hidden side of the lunar surface.

Not only that, the rover has already sent back its first image, and it's absolutely breathtaking.

https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2019-01/10683500-3x2-700x467.jpg
(China National Space Administration/Xinhua News Agency)

With the Moon tidally locked with Earth – taking the same amount of time to spin round on its axis as it does to orbit our planet – one half of it is always hidden from view.

Now, we should be able to get a detailed look at it.

As we've previously reported, the Chang'e-4 lander will relay messages via the Queqiao satellite, which is now sitting in orbit around the Moon. As Chang'e-4 will never be in a direct line of sight with Earth, that satellite relay is going to be essential.

And the new exploratory probe could return a whole host of valuable data: examining the geological make-up of the surface around the South Pole-Aitken basin, a part of the Moon we currently know very little about.

It's thought that the basin was created by a huge collision early in the Moon's history – which means materials from lower down in the Moon's mantle that we haven't been able to get to yet could be exposed in this region.

And the more we know about the Moon, the more we can figure out about the history of our planet and our Solar System. The lander should also be able to make some useful observations of deep space, without Earth getting in the way.

China Daily reports that the lunar probe touched down at 10.26am Beijing local time on Thursday the 3rd of January, arriving in the Von Kármán crater (named after Theodore von Kármán, the advisor to the founder of the Chinese space program, Qian Xuesen).

The journey from Earth started on the 8th of December but of course the project as a whole has been years in the making.

We've known for a long time about the CNSA's ambitions to get a probe landed on the far side of the Moon – and it has now made good on its promise.

View image on Twitter (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv9G20iVsAAidVN.jpg)
View image on Twitter (https://twitter.com/CGTNOfficial/status/1080678237787774977/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwte rm%5E1080678237787774977&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencealert.com%2Fchina-makes-history-by-landing-a-probe-on-the-far-side-of-the-moon)

CGTN
✔
@CGTNOfficial
#BREAKING China's Chang'e-4 probe lands successfully on far side of the moon at 10:26 a.m. BJT Thursday, marking the first ever soft-landing in this uncharted area

2,244
8:12 PM - Jan 2, 2019
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Check out this Twitter thread from the China Global Television Network for some awesome shots taken as the Chang'e-4 lander touched down on the far side of the Moon. As yet no hidden alien civilisations have been discovered – but it's early days.

While spacecraft have been able to take photographs of the far side of the Moon before, this is the first time we've ever managed to successfully land something on the surface: NASA's Ranger 4 probe touched down in 1962, but ended up malfunctioning and didn't send any data back.

We're looking forward to the treasure trove of data Chang'e-4 sends back, but the CNSA aren't stopping here – Chang'e-5 is scheduled to launch by 2020, with the aim of landing on the Moon and then returning to Earth.

Positive news is disturbingly refreshing.

GeneChing

01-07-2019, 12:41 PM

The Moon has a far side, not a dark one (https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/3/18167356/china-change-4-mission-lunar-lander-rover-moon-dark-far-side)
Oh hey, Pink Floyd
By Rachel Becker Jan 3, 2019, 5:28pm EST

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Photo: China National Space Administration

China now has two history-making robots sending back images from an area of the Moon where humankind has never been before. This side of the Moon is distant and mysterious, but, despite pop culture references to the contrary, it isn’t always dark. In fact, after touching down on the lunar surface, the probe sent back a snapshot of its new home that shows a rocky, cratered, and distinctly lit landscape.

China’s probe — which includes a lander and a rover — landed at 10:26AM Thursday, Beijing time, as part of China’s Chang’e-4 mission to scout out the side of the Moon we can’t see from Earth. Since it takes the Moon roughly the same amount of time to spin around its axis as it does to orbit the Earth, we only see one half of the Moon: its near side. China’s landing on the Moon’s far side was a world first, in part because of the technical difficulties posed by that distance. It’s really difficult to get radio signals from Earth to robots on the far side — or vice versa — when the entire bulk of the Moon is planted in between.

China's #Change4 rover is now in action on the far side of the Moon. pic.twitter.com/sZSmR6KCt8

— LunarOrbiter (@LunarOrbiter) January 3, 2019
China bridged the signal gap by sending up a satellite called Queqiao, which communicates with the probe and relays information, including photos, back to Earth. There’s light in the photos because there’s light on the far side of the Moon: in fact, there is no permanently dark side of the Moon. “Half the moon is always lit by the Sun — just like the Earth,” Frederick Walter, a professor of physics and astronomy at Stony Brook University, says in an email to The Verge.

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Image: NASA

Our planet experiences daylight and night because Earth spins on its axis as it orbits the Sun. The side pointing toward the Sun is bright, the side pointing away is night. Over the course of 24 hours, the slow spin of the world cycles through both. (Things get weird at the poles, but even they experience both light and darkness.) The Moon goes through a similar cycle, but on a slower schedule: a full lunar day is roughly 29 Earth days long. Walter calculates that when the Chang’e-4 probe touched down on the Moon’s far side, it was roughly 9AM local lunar time.

“Where the Chinese lander came down, it’s daylight,” Walter says. Shots taken by a camera on the Chang’e-4 lander show the rover, called Yutu-2, casting a shadow on the Moon’s surface, the Planetary Society reports. That’s perfect for the mission, which relies on solar power, according to The New York Times.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv9lRVXVYAAxENx.jpghttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv9lRSlU8AAB1TC.jpghttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dv9lRTlVAAIS3QE.jpg

China Xinhua News (https://twitter.com/XHNews/status/1080693793052024832/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwte rm%5E1080693793052024832&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2019%2F1% 2F3%2F18167356%2Fchina-change-4-mission-lunar-lander-rover-moon-dark-far-side)
✔
@XHNews
What does the far side of the moon look like?
China's Chang'e-4 probe gives you the answer.
It landed on the never-visible side of the moon Jan. 3 http://xhne.ws/zPoty

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Even though you won’t be able to see their landing site, you’ll be able to tell when the Chang’e-4 lander and Yutu-2 are bathed in light or cloaked in darkness just by looking up at the sky on a cloudless night. When the Sun is shining fully on the side of the Moon facing Earth, we see a bright, full Moon — but the far side of the Moon is dark. And when the Sun lights up the far side of the Moon, the near side is dark and we see a new Moon. In between, the waxing and waning Moon will mark whether the robots are entering dusk or dawn.

In the meantime, astronomers and space enthusiasts will await any news from the mission. We’ve seen distant glimpses of the far side of the Moon before. The first time was in 1959, when the Soviet Luna 3 spacecraft took a grainy photo of the far side’s crater-covered landscape. Since then, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured photos and mapped the surface, so we can see the far side in crisp, composite images.

But those images were all still taken from a distance. Now that China’s probe has touched down, we’re getting a closer look than ever before. The spacecraft landed on target in the Von Kármán crater in the South Pole-Aitken basin, according to China’s state media. The basin is a massive, 1,550-mile-wide impact site that’s miles deep and billions of years old. The Yutu-2 rover is equipped with ground-penetrating radar to investigate beneath the Moon’s surface. And while we wait for it to collect its scientific data, we can enjoy the views it sends back of the far side of the Moon — which, right now, is sunlit.

Fair enough. But the terms 'dark side' and 'far side' evoke very different things for me. It's like Darth vs. Larsen, right? :rolleyes:

GeneChing

01-08-2019, 09:16 AM

Imagine what moon mustard/cabbage and moon silk might be worth...

There Are Plants and Animals on the Moon Now (Because of China) (https://www.livescience.com/64413-china-space-moon-plants-animals.html)
By Rafi Letzter, Staff Writer | January 3, 2019 03:05pm ET

https://img.purch.com/h/1400/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5saXZlc2NpZW5jZS5jb20vaW1hZ2VzL2kvMD AwLzEwMy81NDkvb3JpZ2luYWwvbW9vbi1zdXJmYWNlLU5PLVJF VVNFLmpwZw==
Credit: World Perspectives/Getty Images

China's Chang'e-4 lander touched down on the far side of the moon (Jan. 3 Beijing time, Jan. 2 US), and it's got some living things on board.

A small "tin" in the lander contains seeds of potatoes and rockcress (Arabidopsis thaliana, a flowering plant related to cabbage and mustard, as well as a model organism for plant biology), as well as silkworm eggs. The idea, according to a report in The Telegraph earlier this year, is that the plants will support the silkworms with oxygen, and the silkworms will in turn provide the plants with necessary carbon dioxide and nutrients through their waste. The researchers will watch the plants carefully to see whether the plants successfully perform photosynthesis, and grow and bloom in the lunar environment.

"We want to study the respiration of the seeds and the photosynthesis on the moon," Xie Gengxin, chief designer of the experiment, told Xinhua, a Chinese state-run news agency. [See Spectacular Lunar Mission Images in 3D (Photos)]

The "biosphere" experiment was the product of a collaboration between 28 Chinese universities, led by southwest China's Chongqing University, according to Xinhua. The experiment, which is tucked inside a 1.4-pint (0.8 liters) aluminum alloy cylinder, weighs about 7 lbs. (3 kilograms) and includes dirt, nutrients and water. Sunlight will filter into the container through a "tube," and small cameras will watch the little environment. That data will beam back to Earth by means of the complicated relay system China has set up to communicate with an experiment that has no direct line of sight to Earth.

"Why potato and Arabidopsis? Because the growth period of Arabidopsis is short and convenient to observe. And potato could become a major source of food for future space travelers," said Liu Hanlong, chief director of the experiment and vice president of Chongqing University, as reported by Xinhua. "Our experiment might help accumulate knowledge for building a lunar base and long-term residence on the moon."

Rockcress has been grown in space before, including in one experiment on the International Space Station that showed the plants' leaves appearing to rise and fall as they detected the moon's gravity. But whether the flowering plant will flourish in the environment of the far side of the moon remains an open question.

For now, though, this means that there's life in at least one other place in the solar system (even if it's only because we put it there).

Originally published on Live Science.

GeneChing

01-11-2019, 08:57 AM

https://thumbs-prod.si-cdn.com/ScVkgHOhR4CMCXjItycg-KF4oKM=/fit-in/1072x0/https://public-media.si-cdn.com/filer/0e/99/0e992d57-b704-43bc-a0a3-81da602b94f4/yuta-rover-rolling-1546879144.jpg
Yutu-2 sets off on its inaugural journey. (China National Space Administration)

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One first images captured by Chang'e-4 near Von Karman crater. (China National Space Administration)

Best Photos From China’s Far Side Moon Landing (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/china-lands-first-probe-far-side-moon-180971172/)
The Chang’e-4 probe and its rover Yutu-2 are the first spacecraft to land on the little-explored lunar region
By Jason Daley
SMITHSONIAN.COM
JANUARY 7, 2019

China’s Chang’e-4 lander reached the Von Kármán crater near the moon’s South Pole on Wednesday, marking the first time a human craft has visited the lunar far side.

The first upclose images of the far side’s surface came in shortly after via a satellite called “Queqiao,” report Steven Lee Myers and Zoe Mou at The New York Times.

The Guardian reports that, about 12 hours after the landing, a small rover named Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit-2, left the Chang’e-4 spacecraft and began exploring the crater, which is part of the South Pole-Aitken basin, one of the largest known impact structures in our solar system.

Chang’e-4 weighs about four metric tons and carries eight instruments on board, including an infrared spectrometer, panoramic camera and lunar penetrating radar, writes Andrew Jones at Smithsonian.com. It will also collect mineral and geological samples of the moon’s surface as well as investigate the impact of solar wind on the moon. The craft even has its own little farm, or lunar biosphere, aboard—the first of its kind. Part of an experiment designed by university students, it contains silkworm eggs, potato seeds and Arabidopsis, a model organism used in space plant studies.

Because the far side of the moon is shielded from the radio signals coming from Earth, Chang’e-4 will conduct low frequency radio experiments using a new technique. Astronomers plan to connect a radio instrument on the landing craft with one aboard the Queqiao satellite and use the dual-system as a radio telescope—free from noisy radio interference that is common closer to Earth, reports Michael Greshko at National Geographic.

“This will allow us for the first time to do radio observation at low frequencies that are not possible from Earth, from close to the moon and on the moon,” Radboud University astronomer Marc Klein Wolt, who leads the project, tells Greshko. “This will pave the way for a future large radio facility on the moon to study the very early universe in the period before the first stars were formed.”

While such experiments are valuable, the landing is also considered an important accomplishment for the Chinese space program, which is quickly catching up to the decades-old United States and Russian space programs. Landing on the far side required a high level of technical expertise and unique communications solutions, Smithsonian.com’s Jones points out.

“This is a major achievement technically and symbolically,” Namrata Goswami, an independent space analyst, tells The New York Times. “China views this landing as just a stepping stone, as it also views its future manned lunar landing, since its long-term goal is to colonize the moon and use it as a vast supply of energy.”

In the last two decades, China has ramped up its space program, launching two space stations and sending dozens of satellites into space. Besides the U.S. and Russia, it is the only nation to send its own astronauts into space. It first visited the near side of the moon in 2013 with its Chang’e-3 lander and rover. Later in 2019, the nation plans to land Chang’e-5 on the near side of the moon and then send a sample of the moon’s surface back to Earth. In 2022, China is slated to launch another space station into orbit and has plans to establish a lunar colony later in that decade.

While the success of Chang'e-4 is being universally celebrated by the scientific community, space policy expert Wendy Whitman Cobb at The Conversation wonders whether its an indication of second space race. The U.S. recently announced a 10-year, $2.6 billion effort to return to the moon and construct an orbiting space station. Russia has also announced intentions to send missions to the moon in the near future.
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About Jason Daley
Jason Daley is a Madison, Wisconsin-based writer specializing in natural history, science, travel, and the environment. His work has appeared in Discover, Popular Science, Outside, Men’s Journal, and other magazines.

'There is no dark side of the moon really. As a matter of fact it's all dark.'

GeneChing

01-16-2019, 08:52 AM

ALIVE! :cool:

Cottoning on: Chinese seed sprouts on moon (https://phys.org/news/2019-01-cottoning-chinese-seed-moon.html)
January 15, 2019

https://3c1703fe8d.site.internapcdn.net/newman/csz/news/800/2019/thesprouthas.jpg
The sprout has emerged inside a canister since the Chang'e-4 lander set down on the moon's surface earlier this month

A small green shoot is growing on the moon in an out-of-this-world first after a cotton seed germinated on board a Chinese lunar lander, scientists said Tuesday.

The sprout has emerged from a lattice-like structure inside a canister since the Chang'e-4 lander set down earlier this month, according to a series of photos released by the Advanced Technology Research Institute at Chongqing University.

"This is the first time humans have done biological growth experiments on the lunar surface," said Xie Gengxin, who led the design of the experiment.

The Chang'e-4 probe—named after a Chinese moon goddess—made the world's first soft landing on the moon's "dark side" on January 3, a major step in China's ambitions to become a space superpower.

Scientists from Chongqing University —who designed the "mini lunar biosphere" experiment—sent an 18-centimetre (seven-inch) bucket-like container holding air, water and soil.

Inside are cotton, potato, and arabidopsis seeds—a plant of the mustard family—as well as fruit fly eggs and yeast.

Images sent back by the probe show a cotton sprout has grown well, but so far none of the other plants has taken, the university said.

Chang'e-4 is also equipped with instruments developed by scientists from Sweden, Germany and China to study the lunar environment, cosmic radiation and the interaction between solar wind and the moon's surface.

The lander released a rover, dubbed Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit), that will perform experiments in the Von Karman Crater.

The agency said four more lunar missions are planned, confirming the launch of a probe by the end of the year to bring back samples from the moon.

China wants to establish a lunar research base one day, possibly using 3D printing technology to build facilities, the Chinese space agency said Monday.

GeneChing

01-18-2019, 09:07 AM

While this experiment failed, science is based on failed experiments. Good effort.

China Tried To Grow Cotton On The Moon, But It Didn't Work (https://www.npr.org/2019/01/17/686169520/plant-china-mooned-over-dies-couldnt-cotton-to-lunar-environment)
January 17, 20195:03 PM ET
AMY HELD

https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2019/01/17/ap_19014392483889_wide-ef1553a4180cf18b94d4a2ef44ab3a8ea1f06b05-s800-c85.jpg
The lunar lander of the Chang'e-4 probe is seen on Jan. 11. The seeds that scientists hoped would thrive within a biodome aboard have all died.
AP via China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency

It turned out to be the little sprout that couldn't.

The vaunted cotton seeds that on Tuesday China said had defied the odds to sprout on the moon — albeit inside a controlled environment — have died.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency announced the news, simply stating: "The experiment has ended."

But China's greater Chang'e-4 mission goes on. Earlier this month, China announced it had become the first country to land a probe on the far side of the moon, in what is largely a scientific mission and is also preparation for sending Chinese astronauts to the moon.

Tucked aboard the spacecraft were seeds within a biosphere equipped with some of the comforts of home: water, soil, air and a heat control system, Chinese researchers said. Once the probe touched down, ground control instructed the probe to water the seeds.

And on Tuesday Chongqing University announced that photographs of tender cotton shoots revealed "the first green leaf growing on the moon in human history was successfully realized."

A claim, which while perhaps technically correct, may not be precise.

"China has grown the first leaf in a specially designed chamber that was placed on the moon," Melanie J. Correll, associate professor at the University of Florida's Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department told NPR in an email. "[The] plants were not exposed to the extreme environments of the moon."

But still the conditions proved too harsh.

Xie Gengxin of Chongqing University, who designed the experiment, told CNN that the temperature inside the biosphere was bouncing around so much that no life could be sustained and the control team remotely shut down power inside.

In all, Chongqing University said it sent six organisms to the moon, including potato seeds, yeast and fruit flies.

But Xie told CNN that the temperature swings were so extreme they likely killed everything.

The Xinhua news agency quoted China's National Space Administration as saying, "the organisms will gradually decompose in the totally enclosed canister."

Despite their reaching an untimely end, Simon Gilroy, Professor of Botany at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told NPR that the seeds are still germinating big hopes.

"If we want to live longer-term off the surface of the Earth, could we take along the biology that we use to keep us alive?" he said. "It's fantastic to be able to sort of say, yeah, it's a first tiny step down that path."

Yet the answer to a key question remains elusive, Gilroy said: "How do you become a good gardener in space?"

"Trying to move the Earth's environment to the moon is the hardest thing," Gilroy said. "You need water, light, the temperature has to be right and you have to provide the nutrients you normally get from the soil."

Correll said as scientists and engineers work on improving the technology needed to grow plants remotely, the plants themselves may also hold the answer. "These types of studies are critical in order to develop new plants designed for these challenging environments and to grow them to support long-term human space exploration," Correll said.

GeneChing

01-18-2019, 09:27 AM

Ironic that the super blood wolf moon is on a SUNday, but who can resist a super blood wolf moon?

How to see the last 'super blood wolf moon' lunar eclipse for 18 years (https://www.cnet.com/how-to/2019-lunar-eclipse-how-to-see-the-super-blood-wolf-moon/)
Everything you need to know about the rare conjunction of celestial events coming up this weekend.

BY ERIC MACK
JANUARY 17, 2019 11:31 AM PST

https://cnet2.cbsistatic.com/img/nxNO728u17uFfrYeCEaKskvWESI=/2018/01/31/39185e29-9676-493c-8258-c21e87c3b6db/sanddunes.jpg
A 2018 super blood moon as seen from Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado.
NPS/Patrick Myers

Things are going to get a little weird in the night sky the evening of Sunday, Jan. 20 (or the early morning of Monday, Jan. 21 in Europe), but don't worry. It's just some rare cosmic geometry that will turn a big ol' full moon a spooky shade of crimson for a spell.

Three elements make a "super blood wolf moon," but the part that makes it so rare it happens only three times this century is the least impressive. A "wolf moon" is simply the folk name for a moon that happens in the month of January.

Take that away and you've got a super blood moon, which is a total lunar eclipse that happens at "perigee syzygy." I know some people mistrust words like syzygy without any proper vowels, so let's stick with supermoon from here on.

A total lunar eclipse is referred to as a blood moon because when the sun, Earth and moon all line up briefly, the shadow of the Earth casts a reddish shadow on its lone natural satellite. Then there's the supermoon part, meaning the moon is at the point in its orbit where it's just a little bit closer to us, making it seem 10 to 15 percent larger in the sky.

We get two to five supermoons every year, while the gap between blood moons is anywhere from six months to about three years. You can also plan on around one to five super blood moons each decade, but they only fall in January three times this century (the third and final 21st-century super blood wolf moon barely qualifies, since it falls at the very end of the month on Jan. 31, 2037).

The entirety of the total lunar eclipse on Sunday night will be visible from all of North and South America, save for the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. West Africa and the western half of Europe will also get to take in most of the show.

Starting at around 7:34 p.m. PT or 10:34 p.m. ET Sunday, a partial eclipse will begin, with the full eclipse starting a little over an hour later. You can safely look at the blood moon from anywhere skies are clear enough, unlike solar eclipses that require special eye protection in most cases. The main event lasts about an hour.

If skies don't cooperate or you can't be bothered to step outside for some reason to see it for yourself, you can catch the livestream from the Virtual Telescope Project in Rome below. There's also a handful of other eclipses still to come in 2019.

Unfortunately rain is forecasted for my 'hood. :(

GeneChing

03-19-2019, 09:44 AM

March's 'Full Worm Supermoon' to coincide with spring equinox (https://katu.com/news/offbeat/marchs-full-worm-supermoon-to-coincide-with-spring-equinox?fbclid=IwAR1_rY-h3rQ3SEKSxveWuyusSvNxxuiCr3KDflShg7MixlPVJa1yZkHDY r0)
by CODY MILLER, KSNV Staff Sunday, March 17th 2019

https://static-33.sinclairstoryline.com/resources/media/8088b67d-3db3-4d5a-8b2f-500aae5b2998-large16x9_1280x720_51225P00SPYMY.jpg?1552862569696
The Full Worm Supermoon will be this year's third and final supermoon. (Photo: NASA/Goddard/Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter via MGN Online)

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) - This year’s third and final supermoon is set to coincide with the spring equinox on Wednesday, March 20.

The Full Worm Supermoon will mark the first time a full moon and the spring equinox (or vernal equinox) have coincided within four hours of each other in 19 years, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

If you didn’t get enough of the Super Blood Wolf Moon in January or the Full Snow Supermoon in February, the Full Worm Supermoon is expected to appear brighter and bigger than normal given that the sky is clear and dark.

Wondering about the funny name?

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says that Native American and other traditional names for full moons were created to track the seasons.

March’s supermoon is called the Full Worm Moon because the ground begins to soften and earthworm casts begin to appear, which brings robins and other birds to feed, marking the start of spring.

Another name for the March moon is the Full Sap Moon.

The Full Worm Supermoon will be on full display beginning around 9:40 p.m. EST/6:40 p.m. PST March 20.

THREADS
Hi; Moon we are back!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?44620-Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!!)
Happy Equinox! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?70740-Happy-Equinox!)

GeneChing

04-16-2019, 10:48 AM

A Rare Double Libra Full Moon Will Bring You To The Edge. (https://www.selfdevelopshop.com/a-rare-double-libra-full-moon-will-bring-you-to-the-edge/)
By Self Develop Shop - April 14, 2019

https://www.selfdevelopshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/libra-full-moon-660x330.jpg

On 19th April, the Full Moon will be occurring in Libra. This will be a special kind of Full Moon because the first one had just happened in the same sign on 20th March.

This makes this Full Moon the Double Full Moon in Libra. Double Full Moons are special and powerful. It is about making us conscious about our subconscious thoughts and what’s hidden deep within.

The Double Full Moon in April is taking place in Libra which means relationships will turn out to be the main focus.

But don’t think that relationships are something external to you. The relationships can be internal too – the relationship that we have with our inner selves.

The April 19th Libra Full Moon is going to happen opposite the planet of transformation, Uranus.

It’s an alignment that you will make you crave for change so much that you can end up being impulsive and restless. Due to your impulsive behavior, you can end up causing tension in your close relationships.

But that is not all. The Full Moon will also focus on the imbalances present in your relationships so that you can work on them too. You will be feeling a desire to break out of your routine and end up doing something out of the ordinary.

There will be changes along the way which will disrupt your intention, but don’t let it put you down. Keep an open mind and you will be able to experience the thrill of novelty.

However, if you get too impulsive, there’s a chance that you will be standing against authority and take risks that are not only unnecessary but foolish.

Due to your impulsive behavior, you will be making a mountain of a molehill. Minor dramas will rub you in the wrong way and you will end up making a huge scene about it.

You don’t want that in your life right now at this moment of the Full Moon. So, the best thing to do now is to be a bit rational about it and try developing a proper plan before going for something

You would like to independent and that is fine. However, you should remember that independence can disrupt several things in your life. You can have mood swings and feel detached emotionally.

These can affect your relationships as others would not be able to understand what is going on with you. There will be an internal conflict too, a series of self-doubt which you can only tackle through self-care and love.

The Full Moon is also related to the New Moon that happened on 5th April. Your goals will get harvested during this time. Adjust yourself accordingly so that you can absorb the new energy.

Sunstone

We all need a bit of support when there is a Full Moon. Now, with the double energy of the Full Moon, you will need a lot more. Sunstone is the crystal meant for you. It is a crystal that provides you inspiration.

If you are stuck and want to get out of it, then the sunstone will help you push through. It is the light that breaks through the cloudy skies. Sunstone will rid you of your pessimistic perspective and push you forward.

That’s why the Sunstone is also called the Stone of Leadership. It is related to personal power and brings expansion in our consciousness. It reflects the qualities of light and brings warmth and mental clarity. It’s the best crystal for the Double Full Moon.

Infuse yourself with the energy of this Full Moon and stabilize your relationships with others. Best of luck!

April 19th is also Bicycle Day. :eek:

GeneChing

05-14-2019, 08:16 AM

RARE BLUE MOON 2019: MAY'S FULL FLOWER MOON SET TO APPEAR—WHEN IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN? (https://www.newsweek.com/blue-moon-may-full-flower-moon-1424728)
BY HANNAH OSBORNE ON 5/14/19 AT 6:57 AM EDT

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TECH & SCIENCE

On May 18, a full moon will appear in the night sky. This year, May’s full moon, known as the "full flower moon," will also be—according to one definition—a “blue moon”—a celestial event that happens once every two to three years.

But what is a blue moon? And will May’s full moon be one? There are two definitions of what a blue moon is. Under one, the full flower moon is not a blue moon. Under the other it is.

Neither involves the moon actually turning blue.

We tend to think of full moons occurring once per month. Each month’s full moon is also given a traditional name depending on what was happening at that time of year. For example, May’s full flower moon is named so because it is the time of year when flowers come into bloom, according to the Farmers' Almanac. Next month’s full moon is known as the full strawberry moon because June is the time when strawberries are harvested.

However, sometimes one month has two full moons. This is because the phases of the moon take 29.5 days to complete. This means that there are 354 days for 12 full cycles, so once every two to three years, there is a 13th full moon. Because this moon does not fit into the traditional moon name system of old, it is known as a blue moon.

This is one definition of a blue moon—and one that is technically incorrect.

The other definition is the third full moon in an astronomical season that contains four full moons. Astronomical seasons start and end with spring and fall equinoxes and summer and winter solstices. The spring equinox 2019 started on March 20. This year the spring astronomical season contains four full moons, with May’s full flower moon being the third—hence being a blue moon.

As well as the full moon, May 18 will see a number of other astronomical bodies appearing in the sky. “By the morning of the full moon on May 18, 2019, as morning twilight begins, Jupiter will appear in the south-southwest about 23 degrees above the horizon and Saturn will appear in the south about 30 degrees above the horizon,” NASA said in a statement. “Venus will be rising about 7 minutes after morning twilight begins but should be visible low in the east-northeast until about 30 minutes before sunrise. Mercury will not be visible, lost in the glow of the Sun.”

May 18 will also see a Near Earth Object called 2012 KT12 make its close approach. The object, which measures between 48 and 107 feet in size, is set to pass Earth at 1.0 and 7.5 lunar distances, and will be traveling at a speed of 8,835 mph, NASA said. A lunar distance is the moon's average distance from Earth.

The next full moon will take place on June 17, at the end of the spring astronomical season. The next season will start on June 21 with the summer solstice.

https://s.newsweek.com/sites/www.newsweek.com/files/styles/embed_tablet/public/2019/05/13/moon.jpg
File photo showing a full moon
ISTOCK

Well, you learn something every day. And here I thought I knew more about moon trivia than most. :o

GeneChing

07-31-2019, 07:09 AM

Again, I thought I knew my moons, but this is a new term for me.

However, the photo isn't a black moon. A black moon isn't visible. That's a rogue's moon - enough light to see but not to be seen.

SUNSET LIFESTYLE
Don’t Miss Tomorrow’s Black Moon—You Won’t See Another One Until 2022 (https://www.sunset.com/lifestyle/black-moon-july-2019?fbclid=IwAR0msBQq8ZzA2QYRa3Zvqcy6LGzd-JpCJzHxObqSDElIMMun9n_MLND5V6k)

https://www.sunset.com/wp-content/uploads/black-moon-crescent-moon-fcc-0719-900x500.jpg
Creative Commons photo by John Maarschalk is licensed under CC BY 2.0

You’ve heard of a blue moon. Now get ready for a black moon—there’s one coming up the night of July 31

NICOLE CLAUSING
– July 30, 2019

A black moon isn’t as apocalyptic as it sounds. It’s simply the term for the second new moon in a month, and it’s just as unusual as the phenomenon we’ve come to call a blue moon (the second full moon in a month). Both occur about every two and a half years, although they’re not always evenly spaced. The last black moon was in September of 2016, and the next one will happen January 31, 2022.

So what will you see? Well, as far as the moon goes, not a whole lot. A new moon is the opposite of a full moon—the whole disk is in darkness and more or less invisible to us—although because of a phenomenon called earthshine, the disk may be faintly illuminated. Earthshine or no, the new moon also always appears close to the sun, so it will be heading for the Western horizon at sunset on the evening of the 31st. It’s cool to say you were out the night of a black moon—but it won’t be a visually striking event.

That’s not all bad news for sky watchers, though. No moonlight means very dark skies, which means that objects that shine less brightly can be seen more easily. Even without visual aid, you can get some of the best views of the summer of Jupiter and Saturn, both rising in the southeast at about the time the sun is going down. (And if you have even a small telescope, you’ll get a spectacular view of Saturn’s rings.) Summer is a good time generally for meteor showers, and two minor ones—the Southern delta Aquariids and alpha Capricornids—are peaking this week, and a major one, the Perseids, is just getting going. The dark skies will make more shooting stars visible than on a moonlit night. July is also a good time to see the Milky Way as it’s fairly high in the sky at night now, and low light helps with visibility there, too.

GeneChing

10-10-2019, 12:08 AM

OCTOBER FULL MOON 2019: ENORMOUS, ORANGE FULL HUNTER'S MOON TO APPEAR IN NIGHT SKY (https://www.newsweek.com/october-full-moon-2019-full-hunters-moon-night-sky-1463642)
BY ARISTOS GEORGIOU ON 10/8/19 AT 5:00 AM EDT

This October, a bright orange Full Hunter's Moon will appear in the night sky.

Full moons occur roughly every once a month when the Earth is positioned directly between the sun and the moon. In these instances, it is fully illuminated, appearing like a perfect circle.

The October full moon will reach its peak on Sunday, October 13, at 5:08 p.m. EDT, although it will appear full to the naked eye for about a day on either side of this date, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.

The moon will only be really visible after sunset, however, and it will set close to sunrise the next day. (On that date, sunset in New York, for example, occurs at around 6:20 p.m.) In fact, the night of October 13 and 14 is the only one of the month in which the moon will remain in the sky from sunrise to sunset.

This Full Hunter's Moon is particularly intriguing because it may appear larger and more orange than a normal full moon due to the fact that it rises around sunset.

This trick of the eyes, known as the "moon illusion," makes the moon appear larger near the horizon than when it's positioned higher in the sky.

"When the moon is high overhead, it is dwarfed by the vast hemisphere of the heavens and appears to our eyes as a small disk in the sky," Bob Berman, an astronomer for the Farmer's Almanac, wrote.

"By contrast, when the moon is low, it is viewed in relation to earthly objects, such as chimneys or trees, whose size and shape provide scale," he said. "Your brain compares the size of the moon to the trees, buildings or other reference points, and suddenly, the moon looks massive!"

The reason that it appears more orange nearer the horizon is due to the effect of the Earth's atmosphere, according to Berman.

"When the moon is low in the sky, it is ****her away from you than when it is directly overhead," he wrote. "Because of this, the light that's being reflected off of a horizon-hugging moon has to travel a ****her distance—and through more particles of air—to reach your eyes.

"By the time we perceive this light, the shorter wavelengths of light, the 'blue' ones, have been scattered by the air, leaving only the longer wavelengths, the 'red' ones, to reach our eyes," he said. "Thus, to us, the bluish hues are filtered out, and the moon takes on an orange tinge!"

On the other hand, when the moon is directly overhead, the light does not have to travel through as many air particles to reach us because the moon is closer, thus it is scattered less. This enables more of the blue wavelengths to reach our eyes, lending the moon a brighter, less orangey color.

Unlike most other full moon names, the term "Hunter's Moon" is not tied to a specific month. In fact, Hunter's Moon is the name given to whichever full moon comes after the Harvest Moon—or the one closest to the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

As result, the term "Hunter's Moon" can be used for full moons that fall both in October and November, depending on the year. This year, the Harvest Moon occurred on Friday, September 13, for those living in the Eastern time zone.

The name of the Hunter's Moon is thought to come from Native American folklore. One explanation is that the period after the autumn harvest was a good time to go hunting in preparation for winter.

https://d.newsweek.com/en/full/1533888/full-hunters-moon.webp?w=737&f=eaa1c9fe7c9e71d4ed75a6c6bbda14cb
One day after the Full Hunter's Moon, the moon rises behind lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center in New York City on October 25, 2018, as seen from Green Brook Township, New Jersey.
GARY HERSHORN/GETTY IMAGES Perfect for October

GeneChing

12-11-2019, 10:29 AM

Final full moon of the decade is on 12/12 at 12:12 a.m. (https://www.kron4.com/news/national/the-final-full-moon-of-the-decade-is-on-12-12-at-1212-a-m/?fbclid=IwAR3Xouq_cE--n2ECYocsgKjxy8l8aLwHpBU6STcC3Ev9n51AMCpTSZc8NQI)
NATIONAL
by: KRON/WDAF
Posted: Dec 10, 2019 / 04:38 PM PST / Updated: Dec 10, 2019 / 08:07 PM PST

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The last moon of the decade will become 100 percent full on Dec. 12 at 12:12 a.m., eastern time, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

The Farmers' Almanac
✔
@FarmersAlmanac
🌕Feeling superstitious?🤞Lucky? Here's why next week's full Moon may be significant for some... https://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-december-2019-100914 …#thatsalotof12s#fullmoon

https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1202767214170005506/8NYBiMcm?format=jpg&name=600x314
Full Moon for December 2019 Arrives on 12/12 at 12:12 - What Does It Mean? - Farmers’ Almanac
December's Cold Moon turns 100% full on 12/12 at 12:12 a.m. Eastern Time. That's a lot of 12s! Should those living in the Eastern Time Zone buy a lottery ticket? Or get married? We explain.

farmersalmanac.com
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5:58 AM - Dec 6, 2019
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Unfortunately for the Bay Area, the full moon will arrive at 9:12 p.m. on Dec. 11.

This month’s moon has several names, the Farmer’s Almanac said, including the Long Night’s Moon and the full Cold Moon.

The last full moon of the year is traditionally associated with the bleakness of winter starting in December, according to KRON4 affiliate WDAF.

Winter officially begins a week later at the solstice on Dec. 21.

Appropriately, the “Long Night’s Moon” name originates from the more hours of darkness during the winter months.

As far as the symbolism of Thursday’s moon — the almanac says the number 12 is “like a curtain call that allows you to get your affairs together so you can benefit from the windfall that the universe is about to bestow on you.” Auspicious for those of you on Eastern Time. For the rest of us, meh.

GeneChing

01-02-2020, 03:57 PM

13 full moons, including 2 supermoons and a blue moon, will be shining in 2020 (https://www.nj.com/news/2020/01/13-full-moons-including-2-supermoons-and-a-blue-moon-will-be-shining-in-2020.html)
Updated Jan 02, 10:56 AM;Posted Jan 01, 8:30 AM

https://www.nj.com/resizer/vBhxewuhLQTccf-tNpJpskRoTxU=/700x0/smart/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-advancelocal.s3.amazonaws.com/public/RBFD5M3QHBF5JCU47YOP6NFK3U.JPG
Pixabay

Experts say two supermoons and one blue moon will light up the sky in 2020.
By Len Melisurgo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Sky watchers may have gotten a little spoiled in 2019, with three consecutive “supermoons” appearing during the first three months of the year. Will 2020 be as good?

Astronomy experts say two supermoons will be shining in the sky this year, and one month — October — will have two full moons, making the second a “blue moon” that will be glowing on Halloween. How’s that for an eerie treat?

Although blue moons occur once every two or three years, they are even more rare on Halloween, says AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Lada. “After the blue moon on Oct. 31, 2020, trick-or-treaters will need to wait until 2039 to see the next blue moon on Halloween,” he noted.

https://www.nj.com/resizer/4xFd1DZzkbE9RdrEaeIT3BLOHDM=/700x0/smart/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-advancelocal.s3.amazonaws.com/public/GO53JU5Q2ZFGHNRNPGIRVJAVLY.jpg
Pixabay

Experts say two supermoons and one blue moon will be shining in the sky in 2020.

What is a supermoon?

Supermoons are moons that become full when their orbits are closer than average to the Earth — making them appear to be slightly bigger and as much as 30% brighter than ordinary full moons.

Although the precise definition varies in the astronomy world — and some experts say the average star gazer won’t notice the size and brightness difference — most say a supermoon is a moon that tracks less than 223,000 miles from the Earth during its full phase. (Some say any full moon that is 226,000 miles or closer to the Earth can be classified as a supermoon, and others set the cutoff at the precise distance of 223,694 miles.)

Regardless of the exact definition, astronomy websites seem to agree that 2020 will feature at least two supermoons — one on March 9 and another on April 7. Worth marking down on your calendar: Space.com says the April full moon will be the biggest of the year, because it will be the closest one to our planet.

https://www.nj.com/resizer/riJQyJv0U4leP6AisupuRk4vjG0=/700x0/smart/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-advancelocal.s3.amazonaws.com/public/MOHOPFXHB5HOTKGCJDKAMUQTLA.jpeg
Courtesy of Teri Abramson
Experts say two supermoons and one blue moon will be shining in the sky in 2020. Pictured is a supermoon that was rising above houses in Ocean County in 2016.

Dates of each full moon in 2020

In case you want to do some sky watching or photo snapping, here’s a list of the dates and times of each full moon in 2020, along with their most common nicknames. (Thanks to the Farmers’ Almanac, the Old Farmer’s Almanac and TimeAndDate.com for the details.)

13 full moons in 2020
DATE TIME NICKNAMES
Jan. 10 2:21 p.m. wolf moon
Feb. 9 2:33 a.m. snow moon
March 9 1:47 p.m. worm moon / supermoon
April 7 10:35 p.m. pink moon / supermoon
May 7 6:45 a.m. flower moon
June 5 3:12 p.m. strawberry moon
July 5 12:44 a.m. buck moon
Aug. 3 11:58 a.m. sturgeon moon
Sept. 2 1:22 a.m. corn moon
Oct. 1 5:05 p.m. harvest moon
Oct. 31 10:49 a.m. blue moon
Nov. 30 4:29 a.m. beaver moon
Dec. 29 10:28 p.m. cold moon

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

THREADS
Hi; Moon we are back!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?44620-Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!!)
Happy New Year! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?27472-Happy-New-Year!)

GeneChing

01-06-2020, 08:59 AM

Coincidentally, I was looking for a book last weekend and I couldn't find it. I know I have it buried in my clutter.

THIS WEEK’S TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE WANTS YOU TO TIE UP LOOSE ENDS TO DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE (https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/total-lunar-eclipse/)
GOOD ADVICE
JENNIFER RACIOPPI, JANUARY 5, 2020

https://www.wellandgood.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-m-gucci-600x400.jpg
Photo: Getty Images/m-gucci

The universe wastes no time as we find our footing in the New Year, dropping us into the deep end of the cosmic pool. This week, we settle into the astrological intensity that will define much of the year ahead as Saturn and Pluto experience their conjunction at 22 degrees of Capricorn. These planets joining forces in Capricorn unleashes unbridled power to catalyze change in your life. Though, fair warning: The force may take us through a metaphorical swamp before guiding us to the valley—and we’ll feel that effect with extra intensity on Friday, January 10, as we experience a total lunar eclipse.

Yep, it’s eclipse season, which means we’ll be ascending in our schedules and plans, but not before exploring laterally. Only afterward will that rising motion become possible. This full moon directly opposes the Saturn, Pluto, and Mercury conjunction, but even more importantly, the sun conjoins this powerful stellium in Capricorn, intensifying the cosmic event even more.

It’s critical to take time right now to evaluate what’s concluding in your life: What projects, relationships, work dynamics, or personal patterns require a wrap-up?

Given our recent entrance into a new decade and the sweet solar eclipse that closed out December, it’s critical to take time right now to evaluate what’s concluding in your life: What projects, relationships, work dynamics, or personal patterns require a wrap-up? While this might feel abrupt, you can’t fight the changes happening now. Remember, a total lunar eclipse commands the power of a typical full moon, multiplied by at least three. It’s a cosmic, universal force that asks you to yield to it humbly. Embracing your humanity, staying down to earth, and being as flexible as possible now will help you seamlessly integrate the changes afoot.

The sun represents our identity, while the moon represents our emotional needs. With the moon moving into the Earth’s shadow, we are asked to pay attention to the shadows within. Disowned aspects of the self require attention now, and that’ll make emotions feel super-intense. Even more importantly, though, the truth will reveal itself with remarkable clarity in the days leading up to and beyond this total lunar eclipse.

The eclipse itself perfects at 2:21 p.m., EST, on Friday. Despite popular lore that making lunar charged moon water or exposing yourself to the moon on this day will amplify your powers, the truth is, lunar eclipses are inauspicious. They can, and often do, feel like an energetic knockdown rather than a buildup. So, limiting your exposure to the moon, as opposed to intentionally increasing it, will help you feel contained and protected.

Embrace a slow, steady, and sensible approach rather than top-down, immediate change. The cosmos are doing their thing on a macro and micro level, so know that while you are co-creating your reality with the universe, the universe is heavy-handed with its own agenda right now. So take a step back, see the big picture, and surrender. You are not in charge of everything; the harder you push your personal priorities, the harder things will feel. Now’s the time to invite in the flow and allow it to guide you.

Taking good care of your body right now will assure that you can ride the waves of this eclipse gracefully. In the wellness world, it’s easy to overlook the basics and focus on what feels, hip, hot, and exciting. But this week, I promise, the basics are all you need: sleep, water, dark leafy greens, a blood-sugar-balanced diet, and healthy movement. To support your mental health, and to ensure that you gain all the clarity available to you now, a journaling practice may prove exceptionally fruitful, in addition to therapy, acupuncture, or any type of healing practice to help you access your inner wisdom and perception.

So, stay open to what’s unfolding in your life. Soon enough, we will exit the eclipse season, but until then, ride out your situation rather than aim to control it. Saturn, Pluto, Mercury, and the sun in Capricorn, bring things to a karmic full circle, exposing abuses of power and opportunities to meet your most authentic potential. While the week ahead brings extremely emotional aspects, by relaxing into the moment, the catalytic forces of the universe will guide you to precisely where you need to be. Look at the week ahead as a vast clearing.

If you do want to work with it proactively, try leaning into the clearing energy. Consider cleansing your home with sage, eliminating the clutter in your space, and consciously completing whatever needs to be closed. Pay attention to the details, and do not check out.

Jennifer Racioppi is the creator of Lunar Logic—a philosophy that integrates the deep wisdom of both science and spirituality, and blends her expertise in astrology, positive psychology, and women’s health—to coach high-achieving female entrepreneurs to reach their next level of success.

GeneChing

03-09-2020, 09:58 AM

Thanks to the time change, I got a great view of the moon on my commute in today.

ACCUWEATHER
Winter's biggest and brightest full moon to illuminate the sky next week (https://www.wtsp.com/article/weather/accuweather/winters-biggest-and-brightest-full-moon-to-illuminate-the-sky-next-week/607-eca7da91-cec3-40e2-af51-fffe2661e57b?fbclid=IwAR1uPCEU279BATlB0gzWopFIuciz 7sxkFbjc4CrZcXf6FkrJnWr3S6XTyjQ)
Stargazers of all ages stepping outside on Monday night will be able to see the final full moon of winter.
Author: Brian Lada
Published: 1:26 PM EST March 5, 2020
Updated: 5:59 PM EST March 5, 2020

Stargazers of all ages stepping outside on Monday night will be able to see the final full moon of winter, one that will appear slightly larger and brighter than all the others throughout the season.

Monday night's full moon is the first of three big astronomy events taking place this month, and it will be the easiest of the three to see, unless Mother Nature spreads a blanket of thick clouds across the sky.

The moon will rise on the evening of Monday, March 9, in the eastern sky, a little over a week before the official start to spring on March 19.

March is a transitional month with the days growing longer and warmer as the Northern Hemisphere heads into spring. The changing environment has inspired the nickname given to March's full moon.

"At this time of the year, the ground begins to soften enough for earthworm casts to reappear, inviting robins and other birds to feed-a true sign of spring," the Old Farmer's Almanac explained on their website.

https://media.wtsp.com/assets/CCT/images/fa03fcfb-23d1-4d40-ba6b-155c5e0b95ce/fa03fcfb-23d1-4d40-ba6b-155c5e0b95ce_750x422.jpg
This Saturday, March 19, 2011 photo shows a full moon over Pembroke, N.Y. at its closest point to the Earth since March 1993.
David Duprey

This is just one of many nicknames that has been given to March's full moon over the years.

"One such name was the Full Sap Moon, as this is the time of year when the sap of sugar maples starts to flow," the Old Farmer's Almanac continued.

Other nicknames include the Crust Moon, the Crow Moon, the Lenten Moon and the Sleepy Moon.

This year, March's full moon will be more than just a Worm Moon; it will also be considered a supermoon.

A supermoon is a word that has gained popularity in recent years to describe a full moon that appears slightly bigger and brighter than normal. This is because the full moon will fall near perigee, the point in the moon's orbit when it is closest to the Earth.

This change in appearance is very minimal and is only able to be detected in side-by-side photos of the supermoon compared to other full moons throughout the year.

https://wordpress.accuweather.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-04-at-1.03.32-PM.png?w=632
An image of the moon taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is shown in two halves to illustrate the difference in the apparent size and brightness of the moon during a supermoon. The left half shows the apparent size of a supermoon (full moon at perigee), while the right half shows the apparent size and brightness of a micromoon (full moon at apogee). (NASA/Goddard/Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

Folks that miss out on this month's supermoon will have two more chances to see one in 2020, as the upcoming full moons in April and May are both considered supermoons.

Supermoon or not, onlookers gazing up at a full moon may think that the moon appears larger when it is near the horizon than when it is high in the sky. This apparent change in size is due to something known as the moon illusion.

"Foreground objects trick your brain into thinking the moon is bigger than it really is," NASA explained. This is just one of several theories to explain this illusion.

This is also a great time to take photos of the moon as it appears next to objects such as a city skyline or a nearby mountain.

GeneChing

05-07-2020, 12:46 PM

These are incredibly intense times...

Why the Full Flower Moon In Scorpio on Thursday Is So Important (https://www.allure.com/story/full-flower-moon-scorpio-supermoon)
It’s the last supermoon of 2020, for starters.
BY SOPHIE SAINT THOMAS
May 6, 2020
https://media.allure.com/photos/5eb3393707297a0008da9fbb/16:9/w_2560%2Cc_limit/full%252520flower%252520moon.jpg
Getty Images

There's a full moon coming on Thursday, May 7, and it's going to be one to behold. According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, the Algonquins called this full moon the "Full Flower Moon" because it comes at beginning of spring, just when flowers start to blossom. Full moons are moments of manifestation and culmination, and there are a few reasons why this one is particularly important. Here's more about the Full Flower Moon, plus how to spend it.

The Full Flower Moon is a supermoon
Yep, that's right — the full moon on Thursday, May 7 is a supermoon. But not only that, it's the last one of 2020. Supermoons appear larger than regular full moons, so make sure to sneak a peek of the full moon in all of its glory (while practicing social distancing, of course).

This full moon is in Scorpio — here's what that means
Anyone who's spent time with a Scorpio can attest that this sign is best summed up in one word: "intense." As a Scorpio myself, I can confirm that all of the rumors are true. The majority of us are often highly emotional, passionate, and loyal. We can also be suspicious and have a deep need for control.

This particular moon will amplify these traits and bring up issues that live in the shadows; it will also likely affect Scorpios more than others. (But remember that each and every one of us is also much more than just our sun sign. In fact, everyone has all 12 signs in their birth chart, so even if your sun isn't in Scorpio, you can still be affected.) During this full moon in Scorpio, it's likely that matters you've been avoiding will come to a climax — and you might, too. For example, if you and your stay-at-home partner have been avoiding talking about something, prepare yourself to finally address what's been simmering beneath the surface.

Scorpio's strength comes from the sign's superpower: rebirth. Each zodiac sign has a corresponding tarot card. Scorpio's is the Death card, which is highly misunderstood and not to be taken literally. It refers to the moment in which one allows themself to rise from the ashes like a Phoenix, to be reborn into an even more powerful form.

How to use the Full Flower Moon to your advantage
Right now, as we go through a collective trauma, this full moon offers a chance to reflect and meditate on some personal demons you wish to shed. Set some intentions, and think about how you can grow and heal. While that may sound intimidating, it can mean anything from planning to reach out to someone you'd like to make amends with to setting aside more time each day to cuddle with your pet, if that helps your mental health. Don't feel pressure to do anything other than honor yourself and think about what would make you feel your best; this is a time to process and open the door for healing.

Scorpios are also known for their sexuality, and once again, all the rumors are true. However, that doesn't necessarily mean they want no-strings-attached sex, and especially right now, people are seeking emotional intimacy along with the physical. Whether it's through masturbating, virtual sex, or getting it on with your stay-at-home partner, this full moon in Scorpio is a night to get it on. However, keep in mind that it's unlikely that the sex will be shallow, even within casual relationships. Be prepared for deep connections.

For a full moon in Scorpio ritual, light a candle and write down all the fears you wish to release. When you're finished, rip it up into little pieces and throw it away. Then, make a list of everything that you love about yourself. Keep that list. Finally, go have an orgasm or even practice sex magic. To make your orgasm a magical one, simply visualize what you wish to manifest for yourself right now. Use your list as a prompt and follow the theme of self-love. Happy Full Flower Moon!

GeneChing

06-03-2020, 10:56 PM

The Mind Unleashed
GOOD NEWS | SPIRITUALITY | THE UNIVERSE | MAY 27, 2020 AT 12:54 AM.
A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Is Happening During The Full Moon This June (https://themindunleashed.com/2020/05/a-lunar-eclipse-is-happening-during-the-full-moon-this-june.html?fbclid=IwAR02jTBIAtEBYoe8ohYmc1Kr3ez1UnR wt5aB3VlWEAuCs8KnfmuBB1POth0)
On June 5th and 6th, the Strawberry Full Moon will also pass through the faint outer shadow of the Earth, known as a penumbral lunar eclipse.
JADE SMALL

https://themindunleashed.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/coversdfghul-740x416.jpg

(TMU) – On June 5th and 6th, the Strawberry Full Moon will pass through the faint outer shadow of the Earth, known as a penumbral lunar eclipse, the second of four penumbral lunar eclipses this year. Weather permitting, those of you in Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and the South Eastern areas of South America might notice the Moon turn slightly darker, or seem less bright, during the maximum phase of the eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse can be subtle and sometimes difficult to distinguish from a normal full moon.

While June’s Strawberry Full Moon eclipse may be visible from start to finish from some areas – a total of 3 hours 18 minutes – other areas will only experience the Moon rise or set during the eclipse. Check the time of the Full Moon eclipse in your city or town by clicking here (https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2020-june-5), and set that time aside to watch the event. Unfortunately, for North America and most of South America, this event will be happening below their horizon.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth aligns between the Full Moon and the Sun, blocking the Sun’s rays from reaching the Full Moon.

A total eclipse occurs when Earths umbra – the central, dark part of its shadow – obscures all of the Moon’s surface. During a partial eclipse only a part of the Moon’s surface is obscured by Earth’s umbra. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when Earth’s faint penumbral, outer shadow falls on the Moon, like the one we already experienced on January 10th and are what the remaining three lunar eclipses will be this year on June 5th, July 5th and November 31st.

The early Indigenous people of North America kept track of the seasons and lunar months by naming them according to events during that time. June’s Full Moon is either the last full moon of spring, or the first of the summer, and is called the “Strawberry Moon”. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the name originated with Algonquin tribes in eastern North America – and was used as a signal to gather the ripening wild strawberries. Colonial Americans adopted some of the indigenous moon names and applied them to their own calendar system – which is still used today.

Not visible in my hood, but maybe still palpable...

GeneChing

07-04-2020, 04:36 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IRn5MZrdj0&feature=emb_logo

GeneChing

09-02-2020, 01:28 PM

This week's full moon happens only once every 3 years (https://www.livescience.com/full-moon-september-2020.html)
By Laura Geggel - Associate Editor 2 days ago

September's full moon sets the stage for a Halloween blue moon.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fKAgmJ2GPMmJSr9kC7EkTV-1024-80.jpg.webp.
(Image: © Shutterstock)

This week, for the first time in three years, the September full moon is in a unique situation: it's happening so early in the month — a timing that gives it an entirely different name, the corn moon, instead of the harvest moon — that it sets the stage for October to have two full moons, meaning a rare blue moon will shine this Halloween, on Oct. 31.

This full moon, named for the East Coast corn harvest, will reach peak fullness at 1:22 a.m. EDT (5:22 UTC) on Wednesday, Sept. 2, according to NASA.

Usually, September's full moon is known as the harvest moon, as it's typically the full moon closest to the first day of fall, known as the fall equinox. But this year, the autumnal equinox falls on Sept. 22, making the Oct. 1 full moon the harvest moon, according to Lehigh Valley Live, a news outlet in Easton, Pennsylvania.

As with every full moon, September's moon will appear full for three consecutive days, starting tonight (Aug. 31) through Thursday morning (Sept. 3).

Full moons happen when the sun, Earth and moon form a line, allowing the side of the moon facing Earth to be fully illuminated by the sun, according to Space.com, a Live Science sister site.

On the evening before the true full moon, you can catch September's full moon rising at 8:12 p.m. EDT this Tuesday (Sept.1). The celestial show is easily seen with the naked eye (preferably away from glowing artificial lights), but binoculars can help you gaze upon the moon's terrain so that "smooth-looking patterns of gray and white resolve into craters and large mountain ridges," according to NASA. Meanwhile, a telescope can help you spot the moon's mountains, valleys and "the cracks in the moon's surface called rilles, [which] formed when the lava that once filled a basin cooled and contracted," according to NASA.

Skywatchers can also catch bright views of Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter was at its closest and brightest for 2020 on July 14, while Saturn was at its closest and brightest on July 20, according to NASA. This is known as "opposition," as these planets were positioned on the opposite side of Earth than the sun was shining on. Even though these planets are past their closest-and-brightest approaches to Earth, they're still brighter than usual. Look for them in the western sky. If you have a telescope, try to find Jupiter's four bright moons: Ganymede, Callisto, Europa and Io, NASA recommended. A telescope can also help you spot Saturn's illuminated rings and some of Saturn's moons, including its largest moon, Titan.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/czriKVS67w62V5m9F9p6uK-970-80.jpg.webp
(Image credit: Bill Dunford/NASA)

After the next full moon on Oct. 1, the hunter full moon will light up the night sky for socially-distanced trick-or-treaters this Halloween.

Other names for September's corn moon (which was bequeathed by the now defunct Maine Farmer's Almanac in the 1930s) include the fruit, barley and hungry ghost moon, which references the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival that happens on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, according to NASA. On this day, ghosts and spirits, including those of ancestors, are believed to visit the living.

Originally published on Live Science.
I'm bummed about how Halloween will play out. Full blue moon over daylight savings time on a Saturday? Man, what a party that would've been. Can't we just up our cosplay so the masks are good filters?

highlypotion

09-23-2020, 01:40 AM

How could be this perfection!

GeneChing

10-28-2020, 08:29 AM

Full moon will shine on Halloween for first time since 1944 (https://www.wkrn.com/news/full-moon-will-shine-on-halloween-for-first-time-since-1944/)
NEWS
by: John Brewer and Nexstar Media Wire

Posted: Oct 27, 2020 / 12:54 PM CDT / Updated: Oct 27, 2020 / 12:54 PM CDT

https://www.wkrn.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/73/2020/10/hypatia-h_72d7994eddf97d69cb758f47125e8192-h_938fc82381e2a911d9f9906ea1203d01.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&crop=1
A super moon passes through clouds over Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, March 20, 2019. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

HOUSTON (NEXSTAR/KIAH) — It hasn’t happened in decades! For the first time since the 1940s, Halloween will receive some spooky ambiance from a full moon this year.

For many people, the Halloween full moon will be a once-in-a-lifetime event. The last time it occurred was in 1944, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. The next one isn’t expected to happen until 2039, NASA said.

Although Saturday’s moon will be a “blue” moon, it won’t actually appear to be blue. Scientists use the term to describe the second full moon of a given month, which only occurs about once every 2 1/2 years, NASA said.

According to the Farmers Almanac, the first full Moon of 2020 howled onto the scene with January’s Wolf Moon on Jan. 10. And usually, we have one for each month, making the total 12 for the year. But on occasion, some months will have two full Moons.

That’s the case for this month. There was a full Moon on Oct. 1, known as the Harvest Moon, which usually appears in September. It is so named because it occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. The Sept. 2 full moon occurred too early to be known as the harvest moon.

Two full moons to shine in October
The second is coming up on Oct. 31 — a Halloween Blue Moon. It is also called the Hunter’s Moon because it usually occurs in October, the month when traditionally game was fattened and preparations for winter began.

This year’s Blue Moon, which will turn full at 10:49 a.m. EDT, will be a rare Halloween treat.

Threads
Happy-Halloween! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?17340-Happy-Halloween!)
Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?44620-Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!!)

GeneChing

11-30-2020, 09:07 AM

The moon kept me up last night.

Catch a lunar eclipse during the full beaver moon (https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/29/world/lunar-eclipse-full-beaver-moon-2020-scn-trnd/index.html)
By Ashley Strickland, CNN

Updated 7:00 AM ET, Mon November 30, 2020

(CNN)Take a break from online holiday shopping to enjoy the full moon and a penumbral lunar eclipse.

Both events will be visible early Monday morning.
Lunar eclipses can only occur during a full moon, but a penumbral lunar eclipse is different from a total lunar eclipse.
A penumbral eclipse occurs when the moon moves into Earth's penumbra, or outer shadow. This causes the moon to look darker than normal.
During a total lunar eclipse, the change is more dramatic because the entire moon appears to be a deep red color.
https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/200716162552-full-moon-file-011120-exlarge-169.jpg
The full moon during the penumbral lunar eclipse is shown here, as seen from Kathmandu on January 11.
This is the last penumbral eclipse of the year and will be visible to those in North and South America, Australia and parts of Asia. Check Time and Date to see when it will occur in your area.
About 85% of the moon will turn a shade darker during the peak or middle phase of the eclipse. While this type of shading effect of the moon is visible, your best chance to see it may be through a telescope, according to NASA.
But don't worry about trying to determine when the moon enters and exits the penumbra, which isn't visible even through telescopes.
On November 30, the moon will enter the penumbra at 2:29 a.m ET and leave the penumbra at 6:56 a.m. ET. The peak of the eclipse when the moon will be the darkest will be 4:42 a.m.
Unlike a solar eclipse, you do not need special glasses to view a lunar eclipse.
The moon will also be at its fullest at 4:30 a.m. ET on November 30. Each month has its own name associated with the full moon.
For November, that's the full beaver moon. It has also been known as the full frost moon due to the cold temperatures of November.
Native Americans called it the beaver moon because they associated it with when beavers finish building their lodges, made of branches and mud, to prepare for winter.
Whether you emerge from your winter shelter or merely glimpse it out the window, keep an eye on the sky early Monday morning to catch the final penumbral lunar eclipse of the year.

GeneChing

03-27-2021, 10:32 AM

Catch March's full supermoon Worm Moon this Sunday (https://www.livescience.com/full-moon-march-2021.html)
By Laura Geggel - Editor 21 hours ago

It's a supermoon, by some accounts.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y58JZKcz85qhk7bCXapiWT-1024-80.jpg.webp
(Image credit: Gary Saxe via Getty Images)
March's full moon — by some accounts a supermoon — will dazzle skywatchers this Sunday (March 28), as spring's warm weather invites more people to venture outside to gaze upward.

The full moon lasts just an instant, but dedicated moon watchers can catch it at 2:48 p.m. EDT (18:48 UTC) on Sunday, when the moon appears opposite the sun in Earth-based longitude, according to a NASA statement. People who miss this fleeting moment will still be able to see a big, round moon — the rocky satellite will appear full for three days, from Saturday morning (March 27) through early Tuesday morning (March 30).

And, while it might be hard to tell, March's moon is by some accounts a supermoon, depending on how you interpret the term "supermoon." This word was coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle, who said it refers to either a new or full moon that falls within 90% of perigee, when the moon is closest to Earth. Different publications and experts, such as TimeandDate.com and astronomer Fred Espenak, have different thresholds for determining when the moon is close enough to qualify as a supermoon. This year, some are saying that 2021 will have four full supermoons (from March to June), while others are saying there will be three supermoons (from April to June), and some argue there will only be two full supermoons (in April and May), NASA reported.

So, which moon will be the "superest"? "The full moons in April and May are nearly tied as the closest full moons of the year," NASA said in the statement. "The full moon on May 26, 2021, will be slightly closer to the Earth than the full moon on April 26, 2021, but only by a slim 0.04%."

This weekend's full moon has many names, but it is often called the Worm Moon, according to the reporting by the Maine Farmer's Almanac in the 1930s on what the Native Americans called the full moon. According to this lore, Indigenous tribes in the American South reportedly named it "Worm Moon" after earthworms that pop out around this time of year. These invertebrates were wiped out in the region by glaciers at the end of the last ice age about 12,000 years ago, but they were reintroduced with the arrival of Old World settlers who brought invasive species from Europe and Asia, according to NASA. Once the snowpack melts in the spring, these invasive earthworms often wriggle about.

Other names for March's moon include the Crow, Crust, Sap and Sugar Moon. According to the Maine Farmer's Almanac, the northwestern tribes in the United States called it the Crow Moon, due to the cawing of crows that signaled the end of winter, while other groups called it the Crust Moon, after the crust of snow that freezes at night, or the Sap or Sugar Moon, because early spring is the time of year for tapping maple trees.

Meanwhile, in the Hebrew calendar, this full moon falls in the Middle of the month of Nisan, which is tied to the observance of Passover (or Pesach), a holiday that commemorates the biblical event of the Jewish people leaving behind slavery in Egypt. This year, Passover begins at sundown on March 27, and it lasts until nightfall on April 4.

According to the western Christian ecclesiastical calendar, this moon is known as the Paschal Moon, which is key to determining the date of Easter. The word "Paschal" is the Latinized word for Pesach. Usually, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. However, due to differences in the Eastern and Western church calendars, this year Easter will fall on two dates: April 4 for Western Christianity, which views March's moon as the first full moon of spring, and May 2 for the Eastern Orthodox Church, which views the next full moon as the Paschal Moon, NASA reported.

For Hindus, this full moon corresponds with the festival of colors, known as Holi, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, as well as the beginning of spring. This year, Holi falls on March 29. In Sri Lanka, this full moon is called Medin or Madin Poya, and it marks the Buddha's first meeting with his father after his enlightenment, NASA reported. For followers of Islam, this full moon falls in the middle of the month Sha'ban, the month before Ramadan.

Skywatchers will also be able to see other celestial happenings, unless cloudy skies preclude them. On Sunday, the day of the full moon, Mars will be the only visible planet after night falls. Watch for it on the western horizon, NASA recommended.

To catch a livestream of the Worm Moon, tune into the Virtual Telescope Project, which will show the full moon rising over Rome.

Originally published on Live Science. Twas quite bright last night.

GeneChing

04-26-2021, 10:41 AM

Full moon in April 2021: When to see the 'Pink' supermoon (https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/26/world/pink-supermoon-april-2021-scn/index.html)
By Ada Wood and Ashley Strickland, CNN

Updated 4:33 AM ET, Mon April 26, 2021

(CNN)April's full moon is the "pink" moon, and it's a supermoon, too. Catch it in the night sky this Monday.

This moon will be at its fullest on Monday at 11:32 p.m. ET, according to NASA.
Supermoons appear bigger and brighter in the sky because they are slightly closer to Earth. Interpretations of what qualifies as a supermoon can vary, but there are generally two to four moons that meet the threshold -- based on the distance between the moon and Earth -- within a given year.

Under some definitions, April's will be one of four supermoons in a row, including last month's "worm" moon and two more expected in May and June. According to NASA, all publications agree that at least the April and May moons fit the classification.
This supermoon will be the second-closest full moon of the year, according to EarthSky. And although it's called the pink moon, it's not really a different color.https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/210331153224-pink-moon-2020-restricted-exlarge-169.jpg
A pink supermoon rises over the Rock of Dunamase in County Laois in the Republic of Ireland.
This moon gets its name from the pink early springtime blooms of the Phlox subulata plant, also called "moss pink." It's native to eastern North America.
Native American tribes across the United States have their own names for the moon, according to the Western Washington University Planetarium. Many of those names are also associated with springtime signs, including the melting of snow and the return of geese after their journey south for winter. The Cherokee tribe of the East Coast calls it the "kawohni" or "flower moon," and the Creek tribe of the Southeast refers to it as "tasahcee-rakko" or "big spring moon."
There are also several religious celebrations that align with this moon, according to NASA. For Eastern Christians, this is the full moon before Easter, called the Paschal Moon. (Eastern Christianity marks Easter on Sunday, May 2). For Hindus it is Hanuman Jayanti, the celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman. For Buddhists, it is Bak Poya, which marks the Buddha's visit to Sri Lanka to settle a dispute between chiefs, avoiding a war.
This full moon is also near the middle of the holy month of Ramadan, which Muslims observe in honor of the Quran being revealed.
https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/210331153404-02-pink-moon-2020-exlarge-169.jpg
A pink supermoon rises on April 07, 2020 in Worthing, United Kingdom.
Typical of a normal year, 2021 will have 12 full moons. (There were 13 full moons last year, two of which were in October.)
Here are all of the full moons remaining this year and their names, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac:
April 26 -- Pink moon
May 26 -- Flower moon
June 24 -- Strawberry moon
July 23 -- Buck moon
August 22 -- Sturgeon moon
September 20 -- Harvest moon
October 20 -- Hunter's moon
November 19 -- Beaver moon
December 18 -- Cold moon
Be sure to check for the other names of these moons as well, attributed to their respective Native American tribes.
Here is what else you can look forward to in 2021.
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Meteor showers
Once the popular Lyrids meteor shower -- which peaks on April 22 -- passes, the Eta Aquariids follow soon after. They peak on May 5 when the moon is 38% full. This shower is best seen in the southern tropics, but will still be visible to those north of the equator.
https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/210106113808-01-milky-way-file-exlarge-169.jpg
The Milky Way is seen from the Glacier Point Trailside in Yosemite National Park, California.
The Delta Aquariids are also best seen from the southern tropics and will peak between July 28 and 29, when the moon is 74% full.
Interestingly, another meteor shower peaks on the same night -- the Alpha Capricornids. Although this is a much weaker shower, it has been known to produce some bright fireballs during its peak. It will be visible for everyone regardless of which side of the equator they are on.
The Perseid meteor shower, the most popular of the year, will peak between August 11 and 12 in the Northern Hemisphere, when the moon is only 13% full.
Here is the meteor shower schedule for the rest of the year, according to EarthSky's meteor shower outlook.
October 8: Draconids
October 21: Orionids
November 4 to 5: South Taurids
November 11 to 12: North Taurids
November 17: Leonids
December 13 to 14: Geminids
December 22: Ursids
Solar and lunar eclipses
This year, there will be two eclipses of the sun and two eclipses of the moon -- and three of these will be visible for some in North America, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.
A total eclipse of the moon will occur on May 26, best visible to those in western North America and Hawaii from 4:46 a.m. ET to 9:51 a.m. ET.
An annular eclipse of the sun will happen on June 10, visible in northern and northeastern North America from 4:12 a.m. ET to 9:11 a.m. ET. The sun won't be fully blocked by the moon, so be sure to wear eclipse glasses to safely view this event.
November 19 will see a partial eclipse of the moon, and skywatchers in North America and Hawaii can view it between 1 a.m. ET and 7:06 a.m. ET.
And the year will end with a total eclipse of the sun on December 4. It won't be visible in North America, but those in the Falkland Islands, the southern tip of Africa, Antarctica and southeastern Australia will be able to spot it.
Visible planets
Skywatchers will have multiple opportunities to spot the planets in our sky during certain mornings and evenings throughout 2021, according to the Farmer's Almanac planetary guide.
It's possible to see most of these with the naked eye, with the exception of distant Neptune, but binoculars or a telescope will provide the best view.
Mercury will look like a bright star in the morning sky from June 27 to July 16 and October 18 to November 1. It will shine in the night sky from May 3 to May 24, August 31 to September 21, and November 29 to December 31.
Venus, our closest neighbor in the solar system, will appear in the western sky at dusk in the evenings from May 24 to December 31. It's the second-brightest object in our sky, after the moon.
Mars makes its reddish appearance in the morning sky between November 24 and December 31, and it will be visible in the evening sky through August 22.
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is the third-brightest object in our sky. It will be on display in the morning sky through August 19. Look for it in the evenings August 20 to December 31 -- but it will be at its brightest from August 8 to September 2.
Saturn's rings are only visible through a telescope, but the planet itself can still be seen with the naked eye in the mornings through August 1 and in the evenings August 2 to December 31. It will be at its brightest during the first four days of August.
Binoculars or a telescope will help you spot the greenish glow of Uranus on the mornings of May 16 to November 3 and the evenings of November 4 to December 31. It will be at its brightest between August 28 and December 31.
And our most distant neighbor in the solar system, Neptune, will be visible through a telescope in the mornings through September 13 and during the evenings September 14 to December 31. It will be at its brightest between July 19 and November 8. Here's a nice celestial calendar listing.

GeneChing

05-24-2021, 09:48 AM

There are links to vids in the original article.

'Super Flower Blood Moon' webcasts: How to watch the supermoon eclipse of 2021 online (https://www.space.com/super-flower-blood-moon-2021-webcasts)
By Hanneke Weitering - Editor 1 day ago

SUPER FLOWER BLOOD MOON ECLIPSE
The total lunar eclipse of Jan. 20-21, 2019, captured by astrophotographers Imelda Joson and Edwin Aguirre from the suburbs of Boston. From left to right: The start of totality, at 11:41 p.m. EST on Jan. 20; the middle of totality, at 12:12 a.m. on Jan. 21; and the end of totality at 12:44 a.m.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Imelda Joson and Edwin Aguirre)
If you take a photo of the 2021 total lunar eclipse let us know! You can send images and comments to spacephotos@space.com.

The full moon on Wednesday (May 26) will be something to behold, as the only total lunar eclipse of 2021 arrives together with the year's biggest "supermoon."

Skywatchers in much of the world will have a chance to see a slightly larger-than-average full moon temporarily appear red during the so-called "Super Flower Blood Moon." But for those in parts of the world where the eclipse isn't visible — or where clouds foil the view — there will be several free webcasts showing live views of the eclipse online.

During the Super Flower Blood Moon, the full moon of May (known as the Flower Moon) will pass through Earth's shadow, causing it to appear red. This is why total lunar eclipses are commonly called "blood moons." At around the same time, the moon will reach perigee, or the closest point to Earth in its current orbit. This will make it appear slightly bigger than an average full moon, making it a "supermoon," too.

Super Flower Blood Moon 2021: When and how to see the total lunar eclipse

Griffith Observatory

Weather permitting, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles plans to stream live views of the Super Flower Blood Moon on Wednesday (May 26) beginning at 4:45 a.m. EDT (0845 GMT) — just two minutes before the penumbral phase of the lunar eclipse begins. The broadcast will end at 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT), shortly after the last partial phase of the eclipse has ended.

You can watch the Griffith Observatory's webcast live in the window above, courtesy of the observatory, or tune in via YouTube. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the observatory said on its website that it will not host a public, in-person event for this eclipse as it has done in the past.

Lowell Observatory

The Lowell Observatory — where the dwarf planet Pluto was famously discovered — will also broadcast live views of the eclipse from multiple telescopes at its facility in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Starting at 5:30 a.m. EDT (0930 GMT), "Lowell educators will show you live views of the eclipse through our 14” Planewave telescope and wide-view portable Vixen telescopes," the observatory said in a statement. "Educators will also discuss the science of eclipses, the best ways to view them, Lowell’s history with the Moon, and much more!"

This event ends at 7:25 a.m. EDT (1125 GMT). You can watch it live in the window above, courtesy of Lowell Observatory, or on YouTube.

The Virtual Telescope Project

The Virtual Telescope Project, an online observatory founded by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Italy, will stream two live broadcasts of the big lunar event: one for the eclipse and another for the supermoon. Astrophysicist Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, will provide live commentary.

First, on Wednesday (May 26), the Virtual Telescope will webcast live views of the lunar eclipse, beginning at 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT). The webcast will feature shots from astrophotographers in Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. The moon sets in Rome at 5:34 a.m. local time, or 14 minutes before the moment of maximum eclipse, so the best views will come from these remote cameras.

Then at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT), Masi returns with a second live stream to show the biggest supermoon of the year rising over the skyline of Rome. You can watch both events live in the window above, courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project, or directly via Masi's YouTube channel.

Time and Date

Time and Date, an interactive website that offers a variety of tools for skywatching and time zone conversions, will also provide a live webcast of the Super Flower Blood Moon, beginning at 5:30 a.m. EDT (0930 GMT). The webcast will feature live views from around the world, and you can follow along with the photographers' adventures in this live blog.

You can watch it live here in the window above, courtesy of Time and Date, or directly via YouTube. Also, to find out what the eclipse will look like from any given location, be sure to check out Time and Date's eclipse maps and calculators.

Stages of the "Super Flower Blood Moon" lunar eclipse on May 26, 2021
Event Time
Penumbral eclipse begins 4:47 a.m. EDT (0847 GMT)
Partial eclipse begins 5:44 a.m. EDT (0944 GMT)
Full eclipse begins 7:11 a.m. EDT (1111 GMT)
Maximum eclipse 7:18 a.m. EDT (1118 GMT)
Full eclipse ends 7:25 a.m. EDT (1125 GMT)
Partial eclipse ends 8:52 a.m. EDT (1252 GMT)
Penumbral eclipse ends 9:49 a.m. EDT (1349 GMT)
Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her on Twitter @hannekescience. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

GeneChing

06-22-2021, 07:03 PM

Strawberry reminds me of fields forever.

How to watch the last – and most adorably named – supermoon of 2021 (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/06/22/super-strawberry-moon-last-2021-what-means-how-see/7776513002/)
Doyle Rice
USA TODAY

After a pair of eclipses over the past few weeks, both lunar and solar, sky watchers will be in for another treat this week.

The full strawberry moon will grace the night sky this Thursday across the world.

Although the moon will officially be full before it pops above the horizon, it will look plenty big when it rises in the eastern sky Thursday evening, about the same time as the sun is setting in the western sky.

Alas, although it will be a supermoon, it won't look like a strawberry, and it probably won't be red, astronomers say, although it may have a golden color.

When is the strawberry supermoon 2021?
June’s full moon will reach peak illumination at 2:40 p.m. EDT on Thursday, but will not be visible until later that evening, when it drifts above the horizon, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2019/06/18/USAT/4d1b94ed-382a-4633-bc75-e8b223fbcc01-20190617_168.JPG?width=1320&height=880&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp
June's full moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, rises above the Apollo Temple in ancient Corinth, on June 17, 2019.

Why is it called the strawberry moon?
June's full moon is called the strawberry moon because it signaled to some Native American tribes that it was the time of year to gather ripening strawberries, the almanac says.

The strawberry moon is the most colorful of the year because it takes a low, shallow path across the sky, said Bob Bonadurer, director of the Milwaukee Public Museum's planetarium.

The low arc of the June full moon across the sky means moonlight must travel through more of the Earth's atmosphere, which often gives it an orange or yellow tint.

The strawberry moon is also called "hot moon" because it rises right around the beginning of summer.

In Europe, alternative names include the honey moon, the mead moon or the rose moon.

What is a supermoon?
This Thursday's full moon will also be the fourth and final supermoon of 2021, when the moon looks somewhat bigger and brighter than usual since it's a bit closer to the Earth than usual.

The previous three supermoons were in March, April and May, according to NASA.

"Different publications use slightly different thresholds for deciding when a full moon is close enough to the Earth to qualify as a supermoon," NASA said.

"Because the orbit of the moon is not a perfect circle, the moon is sometimes closer to the Earth than at other times during its orbit."

On average, supermoons appear about 7% bigger and about 15% brighter than a typical full moon.

GeneChing

11-16-2021, 08:54 PM

The longest lunar eclipse in 580 years takes place this week. Here’s how and when to watch it (https://www.ksbw.com/article/when-and-how-to-watch-beaver-moon-lunar-eclipse-november-2021/38270112)
Updated: 2:51 PM PST Nov 16, 2021
Jake Smith

Some cosmic events are, well, once in a blue moon. Others, like the return of Halle’s Comet, are possible to catch maybe twice.

But this Friday’s near-total lunar eclipse — the longest of the century and the first of this length in 580 years — is truly once-in-a-lifetime (or, more accurately, many lifetimes).

On the morning of Friday, Nov. 19, the full Beaver Moon will take place in a 97%-total lunar eclipse, according to NASA, meaning that nearly all of the moon’s surface will be shrouded in the Earth’s shadow.

November 2021’s eclipse will be about three and a half hours long, stretching from 2:18 to 5:47 a.m. EST. The Beaver Moon eclipse will peak at 4:02 a.m. EST, NASA reports, and will be visible across North America.

This history-making, near-total lunar eclipse coincides with the full Beaver Moon, which will reach peak illumination at nearly the same moment as the eclipse’s height. But don’t worry — the moon will appear full from Thursday evening through Saturday morning, meaning you can catch an unencumbered glimpse of the full moon, too.

The Beaver Moon gets its name from beaver hunting season, which used to peak this time of year. Plus, beavers start retiring to their lodges for the winter around now, too. Other names for November’s full moon include the Digging Moon (from the Tlingit), the Whitefish Moon (from the Algonquin), and the Frost Moon (from the Cree and Assiniboine).

Lunar eclipses can only occur during full moons when the moon is at its brightest. Because the Earth has an atmosphere, its shadow is not black; the same phenomenon that causes sunrises and sunsets will also cause November's full moon to glow a dull red. That’s why lunar eclipses are sometimes called "blood moons."

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye. To catch a glimpse of it, look low in the western sky at any point during the eclipse, Space.com recommends; the ****her west you are, the better your view will be. Because of its incredible length, this will be the longest lunar eclipse of the century, the site notes — and it's also the longest lunar eclipse in nearly 600 years, according to Butler University’s Holcomb Observatory.

So while sleeping in (or going to bed early) is great, you might want to spend Friday morning doing something else: catching an ultra-rare cosmic treat passing right over your head and in front of your eyes.

4:02 a.m. EST = 1:02 AM PST

GeneChing

12-07-2021, 09:30 AM

China's Yutu 2 rover spots cube-shaped 'mystery hut' on far side of the moon (https://www.space.com/china-yutu-2-moon-rover-cube-shaped-object-photos?utm_campaign=socialflow)
By Andrew Jones published 2 days ago

It's likely a large boulder excavated by an ancient lunar impact.

China’s Yutu 2 rover has spotted a mystery object on the horizon while working its way across Von Kármán crater on the far side of the moon.

Yutu 2 spotted a cube-shaped object on the horizon to the north and roughly 260 feet (80 meters) away in November during the mission's 36th lunar day, according to a Yutu 2 diary published by Our Space, a Chinese language science outreach channel affiliated with the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Our Space referred to the object as a "mystery hut" (神秘小屋/shenmi xiaowu), but this a placeholder name rather than an accurate description.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nqaPRaGAvc9JdUMqyWHRTn-970-80.jpg
This zoomed-in image shows a closer look at a cube shape spotted by China's Yutu 2 rover on the far side of the moon. (Image credit: CNSA/Our Space)
Team scientists have expressed a strong interest in the object and Yutu 2 is now expected to spend the next 2-3 lunar days (2-3 Earth months) traversing lunar regolith and avoiding craters to get a closer look, so updates can be expected.

A likely explanation for the shape would be a large boulder which has been excavated by an impact event.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hnVnEqyeFUAKDfQ84At2Mn-970-80.jpg
An image from China's Yutu 2 showing a cube-shaped object on the horizon on the far side of the moon. (Image credit: CNSA/Our Space)

The solar-powered Yutu 2 and Chang’e 4 lander made the first ever landing on the far side of the moon on Jan. 3, 2019, and the rover has been rolling through the 115-mile-wide (186 kilometers) Von Kármán crater ever since.

Chang'e 4, like its name suggests, is China's fourth moon mission and second to deliver a rover on the moon. The Chang'e 1 and 2 missions were orbiters, with Chang'e 3 landing on the near side of the moon with the first Yutu rover. China has also launched the Chang'e 5 T1 test mission around the moon and the Chang'e 5 moon sample return mission.

monolith...?

GeneChing

05-14-2022, 03:22 PM

Super Flower Blood Moon 2022: Everything to know for the total lunar eclipse (https://www.space.com/blood-moon-lunar-eclipse-may-2022-guide)
By Elizabeth Howell published 6 days ago

It will be visible in parts of the Americas, Antarctica, Europe, Africa, the east Pacific, New Zealand, eastern Europe and the Middle East.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rJSiHXuecQPsMCqxmhFke3-970-80.jpg.webp
A Blood Moon total lunar eclipse will occur on May 15-16, 2022 and will look similar to this view of one from July 2018. Here's everything you need to know about the event. (Image credit: ESA/CESAR–M.Castillo)

The first lunar eclipse of 2022 will take place on May 15 and 16, depending on your time zone.

A total lunar eclipse, which happens as the full moon moves into the deep umbral shadow of the Earth, will be visible in total phase from portions of the Americas, Antarctica, Europe, Africa and the east Pacific. Meanwhile, a penumbral eclipse, an event arising when the moon is in the lighter penumbral shadow from our planet, will be visible in New Zealand, eastern Europe and the Middle East. Eclipse scientist Fred Espenak has listed May 15th's full moon as a so-called supermoon, in which the full moon is at perigee (its closest to Earth of the month), making it a Super Blood Moon eclipse.

While timing depends on your location, TimeandDate.com says the partial eclipse begins May 15 at 10:28 p.m. EDT (0228 GMT on May 16). The Blood Moon will peak May 16 at 12:11 a.m. EDT (0411 GMT). Then the event ends at 1:55 a.m. EDT (0555 GMT). Note the penumbral moon phase of the eclipse will begin about an hour earlier and end about an hour after the partial eclipse.

If you're hoping to photograph the moon, or want to prepare your gear for the total lunar eclipse, check out our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography. Read our guides on how to photograph a lunar eclipse, as well as how to photograph the moon with a camera for some helpful tips to plan out your lunar photo session.

This will be the first of two lunar eclipses in 2022. The next one will take place on Nov. 8, 2022. It will be visible at least partially from Asia, Australia, North America, parts of northern and eastern Europe, the Arctic and most of South America, according to TimeandDate.com.

2023 will also see two lunar eclipses. The first will be May 5 to 6, 2023; it's another penumbral one visible, at least partially, from southern and eastern Europe, Antarctica, most of Asia, Australia, Africa as well as the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans.

The second will be a partial eclipse on Oct. 28 to 29 visible at least partially from Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, northern and eastern South America, the Arctic, Antarctica and the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of the May 15 to 16 lunar eclipse.

WHAT TIME IS THE BLOOD MOON AND HOW TO WATCH ONLINE?

While the visibility of the eclipse depends on your region, timeanddate.com has information about when the eclipse begins and ends globally. The partial eclipse begins May 15 at 10:28 p.m. EDT (0228 GMT on May 16).

The Blood Moon comes to the fore on May 16 at 12:11 a.m. EDT (0411 GMT). All eclipse phases end 1:55 a.m. EDT (0555 GMT). (If you're in the region of the penumbral eclipse, it will be roughly an hour earlier and end about an hour after the partial eclipse.)

We also have some livestreams of the event on YouTube, embedded below. First up is NASA Science Live, which starts at 9:32 p.m. May 15 (0132 GMT May 16.) It will include a discussion on eclipses, moon science and the agency's moon-landing Artemis program.

Astronomy broadcasting service Slooh's webcast starts on May 15 at 9:30 p.m. EDT (May 16 0130 GMT). You should hear from astronomy enthusiasts about the eclipse and its cultural significance. Slooh only plans to showcase the total phase publicly, with the partial eclipse covered in a members-only Discord channel.

There is also the broadcast from TimeandDate.com. Starting at 10 p.m. EDT May 15 (0200 GMT May 16), it plans to broadcast the entire event as long as the weather is cooperative.

There will likely be more webcasts as we get closer to the May 15-16 event. We'll share those here in a dedicated webcast guide as we learn more.
Hope it's clear tomorrow night so I can see this.

GeneChing

06-14-2022, 10:18 AM

Strawberry supermoon of June rises on Tuesday. Here's what to expect. (https://www.space.com/strawberry-supermoon-full-moon-2022-what-to-expect)
By Jeff Spry published about 22 hours ago
The first of four summer supermoons rises on Tuesday and here’s what to expect

As summer nears, thoughts of fresh berries for strawberry shortcake are usually in order, but June is also blessed with what Native American cultures have nicknamed the Full Strawberry Moon, and this year is extra special as it will also be designated as a supermoon to add to its lunar appeal.

June's full moon, normally seen as the final full moon of spring or the first of summer, is traditionally called the Strawberry Moon. In a season filled with four supermoons (they occur monthly from May to August), June's lunar event reaches its peak on Tuesday, June 14 at 7:51 a.m. EDT (1151 GMT).

If bad weather clouds your Tuesday night sky, you can see the Strawberry supermoon of June live online in a free webcast from the Virtual Telescope Project(opens in new tab) in Ceccano, Italy. It will begin at 3:15 p.m. EDT (1915 GMT).

Supermoons are typically defined as any full moon situated at a distance of at least 90% of perigee (that point where the moon is nearest Earth). June’s full moon finds itself at 222,238.4 miles (357,658 km) from our planet when it rises at dusk. Moon lovers should point their gaze in the southeast direction after sunset as the Strawberry Moon lifts elegantly up over the horizon.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ADamr4Qt7Z8pcBRAMWKjxH-970-80.jpeg
A full moon during perigee, known as a supermoon, rises behind Horton Tower in England in this photo by astrophotographer Tom Ormerod. (Image credit: Tom Ormerod)

Those living in North American time zones will experience this celestial happening later that same evening. For exact times, check out this Moonrise and Moonset Calculator(opens in new tab) from the Farmer's Almanac to learn when it will occur in your region.

Supermoons are often known to appear slightly larger than a normal full moon, up to 30% brighter and 17% larger, but in reality it seem to appear much the same, observed as a bright orb casting a slight golden tint. While the actual time of the full moon is instantaneous on Tuesday, it will appear full to the casual observer from June 13-15.

The Full Strawberry Moon gets its name from its occurrence during the brief harvest season for its namesake strawberries. That name and other colorful full moon monikers found in the pages of The Old Farmer's Almanac are derived from multiple sources, including Native American influences, colonial American traditions, and Old World European customs. Names for full or new moons were historically used to monitor certain seasons but in modern times we mostly use them as evocative nicknames that harken back to simpler days.

For avid amateur astronomers wishing to photograph the moon, check out our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography guides for helpful tips. You can also read our timely suggestions on how to photograph the moon with a camera to perfect your lunar photo session.

Editor's Note: If you snap an amazing moon photo and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
I was out last night and the moon was stunning.

GeneChing

09-15-2022, 09:37 AM

China Discovers Stunning Crystal on the Moon, Nuclear Fusion Fuel for Limitless Energy (https://www.vice.com/en/article/epzaga/china-moon-crystal-nuclear-fusion)
The find makes China the third country to discover a new mineral on the Moon, and the country says it's analyzed the soil for rare helium-3.
Becky Ferreira
By Becky Ferreira
September 14, 2022, 6:00am

https://video-images.vice.com/articles/6320ed06863d22009b94af6f/lede/1663102571441-screen-shot-2022-09-13-at-45539-pm.png?crop=0.9673xw:0.9988xh;0.0327xw,0xh&resize=500:*
IMAGE: TWITTER/@PDCHINA
210329_MOTHERBOARD_ABSTRACT_LOGO
ABSTRACT breaks down mind-bending scientific research, future tech, new discoveries, and major breakthroughs.

China has discovered a crystal from the Moon made of a previously unknown mineral, while also confirming that the lunar surface contains a key ingredient for nuclear fusion, a potential form of effectively limitless power that harnesses the same forces that fuel the Sun and other stars.

The crystal is part of a batch of lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 mission, which landed on the Moon in 2020, loaded up with about four pounds of rocks, and delivered them to Earth days later. After carefully sifting through the samples—which are the first Moon rocks returned to Earth since 1976—scientists at the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology spotted a single crystal particle, with a diameter smaller than the width of a human hair.

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The crystal is made of the novel mineral Changesite—(Y), named after the Chinese Moon goddess, Chang’e, that also inspired China’s series of lunar missions. It was confirmed as a new mineral on Friday by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA), according to the Chinese state-run publication Global Times.

Changesite—(Y) is the sixth new mineral to be identified in Moon samples, and the first to be discovered by China. Before China, only the U.S. and Russia could claim to have discovered a new Moon mineral. It is a transparent crystal that formed in a region of the northern lunar near-face that was volcanically active about 1.2 billion years ago.

According to state media, the new lunar samples also contain helium-3, a version of the element helium that has long fascinated scientists—and science fiction creators—because of its potential as a nuclear fusion fuel source. This hypothetical form of power aims to harness energy released by atoms that merge under tremendous pressures, such as those in the interiors of stars. Starlight is a ubiquitous product of nuclear fusion, but human-made fusion reactors will still likely take decades to develop, assuming they are feasible at all.

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That said, if these reactors do become a reality, helium-3 would be a good fuel candidate because it produces less radioactive byproducts and nuclear waste compared to other atoms. Whereas helium-3 is incredibly scarce on Earth, it is abundant on the Moon, a disparity that has stoked dreams of mining the material on the lunar surface.

Along those lines, China has joined the United States, and other nations, in expressing interest in extracting resources from the Moon in the future. Fascinating...

GeneChing

11-07-2022, 09:17 AM

2025? I should live so long...

Auspicious for the midterms however. Rock the Vote!

What time is the Blood Moon total lunar eclipse on Nov. 8? (https://www.space.com/blood-moon-lunar-eclipse-november-2022-what-time)
By Tariq Malik published about 24 hours ago
Here's an awesome timeline for the Beaver Blood Moon lunar eclipse of Nov. 8.

The last total lunar eclipse until 2025 will turn the moon blood-red on Tuesday, Nov. 8, but exactly when you should look up depends on where you are.

The eclipse, dubbed the Beaver Blood Moon lunar eclipse since it occurs during November's Full Beaver Moon, will be visible across North America, the Pacific, Australia and Asia. During the eclipse, the full moon will pass through Earth's shadow as it moves behind our planet with respect to the sun, giving it a spectacular bloody color in the process. You can watch the total lunar eclipse on Space.com for free, courtesy of several webcasts from observatories across the United States.

Tuesday's "blood moon" eclipse will begin at 3:02 a.m. EST (0803 GMT) when the moon begins to enter the outermost region of Earth's shadow. You'll have to adjust the time for your time zone (it begins at 12:02 a.m. PST for observers on the U.S. West Coast, for example). While this marks the official beginning of the lunar eclipse, it can be hard to see as the Earth's penumbral shadow is very slight.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RKLrFNUhqBosd78D5DuBEG-970-80.jpg
This NASA graphic shows the stages of the total lunar eclipse of Nov. 8, 2022 in Eastern time as the moon moves from right to left. (Image credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio)

Looking for a telescope for the lunar eclipse? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 (opens in new tab) as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide.
"The moon begins to dim, but the effect is quite subtle," NASA wrote (opens in new tab) in an eclipse timeline.

More striking will be the partial eclipse phase, which will begin at 4:09 a.m. EST (0909 GMT) and last just over an hour. This is when the moon enters the Earth's umbra, or darker portion of the Earth's shadow. If you didn't notice the penumbral eclipse, you should be able to see this with your unaided eye.

"To the naked eye, as the moon moves into the umbra, it looks like a bite is being taken out of the lunar disk," NASA wrote in its guide.

Blood moon lunar eclipse timeline for Nov. 8, 2022
Millestone EST PST GMT
Penumbral eclipse begins 3:02 a.m. 12:02 a.m. 0802
Partial eclipse begins 4:09 a.m. 1:09 a.m. 0909
Totality begins 5:17 a.m. 2:17 a.m. 1017
Totality ends 6:42 a.m. 3:42 a.m. 1142
Partial eclipse ends Moon has set 4:49 a.m. 1249
Penumbral eclipse ends Moon has set 5:50 a.m 1350
Source: NASA

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hW8h7QjgAHGVoNDZPUAVTH-970-80.jpg
A map showing where the November 8, 2022 lunar eclipse is visible. Contours mark the edge of the visibility region at eclipse contact times. (Image credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Scientific Visualization Studio)

If you take a photo of the last total lunar eclipse until 2025 let us know! You can send images and comments to spacephotos@space.com.
The real show begins at totality, when the entire moon enters the umbra. On Nov. 8, this will occur at 5:17 a.m. EST (1017 GMT) and will last about 85 minutes, ending at 6:42 a.m. EST (1142 GMT), according to NASA.

"The moon will turn a coppery-red. Try binoculars or a telescope for a better view," NASA wrote. "If you want to take a photo, use a camera on a tripod with exposures of at least several seconds.

If you are hoping to photograph the moon, check out our guides on how to photograph a lunar eclipse and how to photograph the moon with a camera. You can prepare for your next moon observing session with our guides to the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.

Once the total phase of the lunar eclipse ends, it will return a partial phase in a reverse of the what we saw at the beginning of the eclipse. The partial phase will end at 7:49 a.m. EST (4:49 a.m. PST, 1249 GMT), but by this time the moon will have set for Eastern time zone observers. For those in locations where the moon is still visible, the final penumbral phase will last until 8:50 a.m. EST (5:50 a.m. PST, 1350 GMT).

And those are the times for the Nov. 8 total lunar eclipse! If you miss this lunar event, the next total lunar eclipse will occur on March 14, 2025, though there will be partial lunar eclipses in 2023 and 2024. Of course, there is a full moon every month, so you can practice your lunar photography and observing all year in advance of the next moon eclipse.

Editor's Note: If you snap an amazing lunar eclipse photo and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

GeneChing

05-01-2023, 01:18 PM

Flower Moon, a lunar eclipse and a meteor shower unfold this week. Here's what to know (https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/flower-moon-lunar-eclipse-meteor-17915826.php)
Photo of Kellie Hwang
Kellie Hwang
May 1, 2023
https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/27/71/75/23043943/6/1200x0.jpg
A visitor examines the Leah telescope at Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. A penumbral lunar eclipse will accompany a Flower Moon and the Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak on Friday.
Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle
Three celestial events will unfold Friday: a penumbral lunar eclipse accompanying a Flower Moon, and the peak of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.

But Bay Area stargazers should keep their expectations in check, astronomers say — especially since the eclipse will come and go while it’s still daylight in the region.

Lunar eclipses occur only during full moons, and Friday night brings the Flower Moon — the nickname for the full moon that occurs in May.

“Native Americans gave names to each of the full moons during the year, and those names often referred to natural seasonal events that occur at the time of the full moon,” said Gerald McKeegan, an adjunct astronomer at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. “Thus the full moon in early May is a springtime full moon, when flowers are in bloom.”

Other examples include the Snow Moon during winter snowfall in February, and the Strawberry Moon in June when strawberries ripen.

Geoff Mathews, professor of astronomy at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, explained further: “Just about every culture used astronomical events as a calendar for human needs, like planting, harvesting, and sailing seasons.”

The Flower Moon won’t appear any different than usual, but Mathews said viewing any full moon is a great experience.

“I always enjoy the perspective illusion that as the moon rises it appears larger to us,” he said. “Near the horizon, there are other things to compare it to, while high in the sky there is nothing else around. That fools our visual systems.”

The Flower Moon will be accompanied by a penumbral lunar eclipse, which occurs when the moon passes through the shadow of the Earth as the moon orbits around us, said McKeegan. The Earth’s shadow has a dark inner circular shadow called the umbra, and a fainter outer shadow called the penumbra.

“The moon will pass just inside the faint penumbral shadow,” he said.

However, while the eclipse will be viewable in Africa, Asia and Australia, the Bay Area won’t be so fortunate.

“For those of us in the Bay Area, this event will occur in the daytime, between 8:14 a.m. and 12:31 p.m., when the moon will not be visible,” McKeegan said.

Instead, avid stargazers might try looking for meteors from the Eta Aquarid shower, which is active around April 19 to May 28 and reaches peak activity around May 5.

The meteors are small rocky particles left behind by Halley’s Comet, McKeegan said. Every year in early May during Earth’s orbit around the Sun, we pass through the particle stream.

However, astronomers explained that the Bay Area is not well-positioned to view this meteor shower. The meteors appear to trace back to Aquarius, which is a quite southerly constellation, so it never rises very high here, Mathews said. Also, the full moon will make the meteors more difficult to view.

“Most Eta Aquarid meteors seen in the Bay Area will likely appear to streak close to parallel with the horizon, which is a pretty cool sight,” Mathews said. “But there won’t be that many.”

According to McKeegan, “only the brightest” meteors will be visible. Viewers can expect to see only about a dozen per hour, with the best viewing times after midnight and closer to 3 a.m. during the very wee hours of May 4, 5 and 6. So unless you’re particularly adventurous, it might not be worth the effort for the casual stargazer.

But if you’re determined to try, keep in mind that meteors can appear in any part of the sky, and will streak across large distances, so you shouldn’t use binoculars or telescopes to watch for them, Mathews said.

“Find a nice dark sky location, lay out on a blanket and just stare up at the sky, away from the moon,” he said. “If you are lucky, you might catch a few meteors.”

Reach Kellie Hwang: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @KellieHwang

Written By Kellie Hwang
Kellie Hwang is the newsletter editor for The San Francisco Chronicle. She was previously an engagement reporter.

Before returning to the Bay Area, she held roles as transportation reporter and trending news reporter at the IndyStar in Indianapolis. Previously, Kellie covered dining news and trends, visual arts, events and nightlife for the Arizona Republic, and freelanced for the former Contra Costa Times. Kellie has held many leadership roles for the Asian American Journalists Association, including most recently a board member for the San Francisco chapter. She is a University of Washington graduate."]Flower Moon, a lunar eclipse and a meteor shower unfold this week. Here's what to know[/URL]
bummer we can't see it here.

GeneChing

08-17-2023, 09:22 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2xxXfVT0x8

GeneChing

08-28-2023, 09:12 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCLnYPHOywA

It's also Ghost Festival this Wednesday. Spooky.

Hungry-Ghost-Festival (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?71855-Hungry-Ghost-Festival)
Hi; Moon we are back!!! (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?44620-Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!!)

GeneChing

08-30-2023, 08:05 AM

Wednesday night is a rare super blue moon. It won’t happen again for 14 years (https://www.deseret.com/2023/8/30/23851997/super-blue-moon-how-to-see)
By Hannah Murdock
Aug 30, 2023, 6:18am PDT
https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0c9873b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2636x1756+82+0/resize/1300x866!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FhgEWHtLpFOgb6o6m6oX9XHlApK0%3D %2F0x0%3A2800x1756%2F2800x1756%2Ffilters%3Afocal%2 81400x878%3A1401x879%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24883791 %2FBlueMoon_JDA_0085.jpg
Wednesday night is a chance to see an astronomical phenomenon that won’t seen again for 14 years: A “super blue moon.”Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Wednesday night is a chance to see an astronomical phenomenon that won’t be seen again for 14 years: A “super blue moon.”

Unfortunately, the moon won’t actually appear blue, but the sight will still be worth a glance at the night sky, as it will be the “biggest and brightest moon of the year,” Space.com reports.

What is a super blue moon?
A super blue moon is a combination of a supermoon and a blue moon.

A supermoon happens when a full moon occurs at the same time that the moon reaches the point in its orbit closest to Earth. This makes the moon appear bigger than normal.

A blue moon, on the other hand, is the second full moon in a month. This occurs every two to three years, according to NASA.

How often do super blue moons occur?
A supermoon and a blue moon rarely overlap, making Wednesday night’s moon a rare sight.

Super blue moons occur on average every 10 years, according to NASA. The next super blue moon won’t happen again until January 2037.

How to see the super blue moon
The super blue moon will be officially be visible starting Aug. 30 at 7:35 p.m. MDT, according to Space.com. That’s when the moon will turn to a full moon. Wonder if I'll live to see the next one...

GeneChing

09-25-2023, 08:59 AM

What to know about the harvest moon, the last supermoon of the year (https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/09/25/fall-harvest-moon-how-to-watch/)

By Amudalat Ajasa
September 25, 2023 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/3MDOWBRSN2KDJGW6BXTRRMDAEI_size-normalized.jpg&w=1200
The full harvest moon rises behind downtown buildings in Kansas City, Mo., on Sept. 9, 2022. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
2 min

For some, leaves changing from lively greens to crisp oranges, pumpkin spice cravings and cozy sweater weather mark the beginning of autumn. While these are all iconic fall staples, skywatchers get an extra treat. The harvest moon, the conclusion of this year’s four-part supermoon series, will start lighting up the sky on Thursday night.

Want to know how your actions can help make a difference for our planet? Sign up for the Climate Coach newsletter, in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.
The moon will look a pumpkin-y orange and red — which seems oddly fitting — but that isn’t a unique trait to this month. All full moons appear orange — and we have 13 each year.

What is a supermoon?
Supermoons are full moons that occur when the moon is at the closest point of orbit to Earth. Supermoons can appear up to 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than the smallest-seeming full moon, according to NASA. This will be the last supermoon until next August.

Why is it called a harvest moon?
The harvest moon, also known as the corn moon by Indigenous groups in the Northeast, historically signals the time of year when different summer crops are ready to be harvested. Farmers have also relied on the light from September’s full moon to harvest their crops late into the night.

“It’s close to the full harvest, so it’s a full moon that happens around the time of the fall harvest,” said Noah Petro, a scientist with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project at NASA.

Where and when can you see this moon?
While this year’s harvest moon will appear to be a bit larger and brighter because of its supermoon status, it’s simply the closest full moon to the autumn equinox.

The autumnal equinox, which results in nearly an equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes, signals the astronomical turning of seasons — meaning cooling temperatures are finally on the way after this blistering summer. This year, the harvest moon will rise about a week after the autumn equinox, from Thursday night into Friday morning. The moon will be at it’s fullest at 5:57 a.m. on Friday.

We are all separated by distance but united by the moon and, luckily, this is a moon that everyone will get to see. It will be full from sunrise to sunset.

While the harvest moon will begin to grace skies on Thursday, don’t fret if you miss it. Skywatchers, and harvesters, will be able to see a near full moon in the days leading up to its monthly peak and in the days after, according to NASA ambassador Tony Rice.

“You can go at least a day in either direction, maybe two in each direction, and it’s going to look just as full to most people,” Rice said.

By Amudalat Ajasa
Amudalat Ajasa covers extreme weather news for The Washington Post and writes about how extreme weather and climate change are affecting communities in the United States and abroad. Twitter

Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!! (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?44620-Hi-Moon-we-are-back!!!)
Happy-mid-autumn-festival (https://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?48173-Happy-mid-autumn-festival)

GeneChing

10-25-2023, 08:22 AM

How to watch the full 'Hunter's Moon' get eclipsed this weekend (https://www.livescience.com/space/the-moon/how-to-watch-the-full-hunters-moon-get-eclipsed-this-weekend)
News
By Jamie Carter published about 23 hours ago
October's full 'Hunter's Moon' will drift into Earth's shadow for a partial eclipse on Oct. 28.

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pMo7L7jMsadVsRqPpiG9A8-1200-80.jpg.webp
The full Hunter's Moon this weekend will be visible close to Jupiter and be partially eclipsed by Earth. (Image credit: Jeremy Hogan via Getty Images)
This weekend (Oct. 28), the full Hunter's Moon will rise and, for some sky-watchers, be eclipsed by Earth. Observers in Europe, Africa and Asia will get the best view of the lunar eclipse, but there will be plenty to see from across the world, with Jupiter shining brightly alongside the moon as it rises.

The October full moon has been called the Hunter's Moon in the Northern Hemisphere since the 18th century because it is a significant time for hunting, according to Farmer's Almanac. The moon will be officially full at 3:35 p.m. EST on Saturday, Oct. 28. The best time to watch will be later that evening, at moonrise where you are, as our celestial neighbor appears on the eastern horizon.

Observers in Europe, Africa and Asia will also be able to watch the full moon slip in and out of Earth's outer shadow, or penumbra, while it's high in the sky.

At the peak of the event, some of the moon will be inside Earth's darker inner shadow, the umbra, which normally causes a reddish "Blood Moon." However, with just 6% of the moon darkened this time, the effect will be incredibly slight. You can find out exactly what you'll see and when by using this interactive map on Timeanddate.com.

This lunar eclipse will occur just two weeks after the Oct. 14 "ring of fire" solar eclipse, which was visible across North America. It's no coincidence. The moon's orbit is tilted by 5 degrees with respect to the ecliptic — the path of the sun through our daytime sky. When a new moon intersects the ecliptic it causes a solar eclipse, with the previous or the next (and sometimes both) full moon causing a lunar eclipse.

Wherever you observe the moon from, the most interesting sight once the moon is high in the sky will likely be the presence of Jupiter, just 3 degrees below it. It will be shining particularly brightly alongside the Hunter's Moon because on Thursday, Nov. 2 it will reach its annual opposition. On that date, Earth will be between the sun and Jupiter, with the planet therefore "'full'," with 100% of the planet lit by the sun from our point of view.

Because Jupiter is also at its closest to Earth this year, at 370 million miles (595 million kilometers) distant, according to EarthSky, the gas giant will also rise at sunset and set at sunrise, remaining visible all night. The few weeks on either side of Jupiter's opposition is the best time of the year to observe the giant planet.

The following full moon will be the Beaver Moon on Nov. 27.

Jamie Carter
Live Science contributor
Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist and regular Live Science contributor based in Cardiff, U.K. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners and lectures on astronomy and the natural world. Jamie regularly writes for Space.com, TechRadar.com, Forbes Science, BBC Wildlife magazine and Scientific American, and many others. He edits WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com.
Perfect for Halloween weekend. Be safe everyone!

GeneChing

03-24-2024, 04:53 PM

A full moon and lunar eclipse will wriggle through the sky this month (https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/03/22/full-worm-moon-penumbral-lunar-eclipse/)
The worm moon will soon wriggle its way into the sky. Here’s what to know.
By Amudalat Ajasa
March 22, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. EDT
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/LBIRCMDBT4I6VCUOLRJTNMZHMA.jpg&w=916
A jet flies northbound as the nearly full moon rises over Washington. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

The moon is gearing up for some major performances in the next two weeks. As spring showers continue to fall from the skies and drench the soil, earthworms could be taken to new heights — and that’s not because of the birds feasting on them. March’s full moon, also known as the worm moon, will wriggle its way into the sky on March 25.
Not only will there be a full moon, but there will also be a penumbral lunar eclipse, which is set to be an understated opening act to the climactic total solar eclipse in a few weeks. Sky watchers nationwide could see the penumbral lunar eclipse subtly shade the moon early on March 25 — but note that it’s tricky to see.

The full worm moon
Different cultures give names to the moon, often based on common seasonal activities. It is thought that the worm moon got its name from the critters that squirm on the ground when it rains in the spring. While this is true, Indigenous tribes may have been referring to the beetle larvae that come from defrosting trees, according to Almanac.com.
The worm moon has also been called the sugar moon by Ojibwe tribes, as it marks the time of year when sticky sap from sugar maples emerges. It’s also been called the crow moon by other Indigenous tribes, as it marks the bird’s reappearance.
But that’s not the only exciting thing about the full moon. As the moon rises above the horizon, it may appear larger than usual because of “moon illusion.” The moon isn’t actually bigger in size, but it appears a little bigger because your eye has something to compare it to like buildings or trees.
This is also the closest moon to the spring equinox. The spring equinox, which results in nearly an equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes, signals the astronomical turning of seasons — meaning even warmer temperatures are on the way after a historically mild winter.
This year, the worm moon will rise about a week after the spring equinox. The moon will be at its fullest at 2 a.m. Eastern time on Monday.

The penumbral lunar eclipse
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/CUQUL3TCNII6VCUOLRJTNMZHMA.jpg&w=916
The full worm moon rises over Washington. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)
The full moon will also feature a very subtle eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon travels through the Earth’s outer shadow, the penumbra, causing the moon to appear just a hair darker.
There are two parts to a shadow: the umbra, the inner and darkest part of the shadow, and the penumbra, the outer shadow. The next time you look at your shadow on the ground, try to spot the difference. You’ll be able to spot your more obvious dark shadow, but the fainter, lighter shadow around it may be tricky, said Elizabeth Warner, the director of the astronomy observatory at the University of Maryland.
“Just as the penumbra around your shadow is hard to see, it’s the same with the Earth’s outer shadow,” Warner said.
The penumbral lunar eclipse is like that song you always skip on your playlist. It’s not like the lofty total lunar eclipse — commonly known as a “blood moon” — which drapes the moon in a coppery-red coat. Or the partial lunar eclipse that obscures parts of the moon, almost as if a bite were taken out of it without fully covering it. There is generally a lunar eclipse every six months, according to Jean-Luc Margot, a professor of planetary astronomy at UCLA.
“These types of eclipses are very difficult to detect,” Margot said. “I would encourage the public to watch the other lunar eclipses or the solar eclipse.”
But this subtle eclipse may get people excited about the showstopping total solar eclipse on April 8. Thousands of people will travel to the roughly 115-mile-wide path that stretches from Mexico through Maine to watch the moon temporarily block the sun.

By Amudalat Ajasa
Amudalat Ajasa covers extreme weather news for The Washington Post and writes about how extreme weather and climate change are affecting communities in the United States and abroad.

Probably too subtle to see in my area.