Lunar Perigee & Apogee
Nick Anthony Fiorenza
Copyright © 2009-2012 Nick Anthony Fiorenza, All Rights Reserved
Full Moon - Lunar Perigees for 2012
The Lunar Perigee is when the Moon is closest to the Earth during its monthly orbit. The Lunar Apogee is when the Moon is furthest from Earth. Generally, the Moon looks about 14% larger and 30% brighter at its perigee compared to its apogee. The Moon looks additionally larger when it is on the horizon due to atmospheric distortion. Thus when a Full Moon occurs during a Lunar Perigee, the Full Moon will look spectacular when it rises on the eastern horizon at sunset, especially with the right atmospheric conditions.
All times GMT (UT)
Closest New and Full Moon: Yellow
Feb 11 18:33 367919 km
Mar 10 10:03 362399 km
Apr 7 17:00 358313 km
May 6 3:34 356953 km
Jun 3 13:21 358482 km
Jul 1 18:02 362361 km
Jul 29 8:31 367317 km
Aug 23 19:40 369730 km
Sep 19 2:53 365748 km
Oct 17 1:03 360672 km
Nov 14 10:23 357360 km
Dec 12 23:15 357073 km
2012 Jan 23 7:42
2012 Feb 21 22:37
2012 Mar 22 14:39
2012 Apr 21 7:20
2012 May 20 23:48
2012 Jun 19 15:03
2012 Jul 19 4:25
2012 Aug 17 15:55
2012 Sep 16 2:11
2012 Oct 15 12:03
2012 Nov 13 22:08
2012 Dec 13 8:42
2012 Feb 7 21:56
2012 Mar 8 9:42
2012 Apr 6 19:20
2012 May 6 3:36
2012 Jun 4 11:12
2012 Jul 3 18:52
2012 Aug 2 3:27
2012 Aug 31 13:58
2012 Sep 30 3:19
2012 Oct 29 19:51
2012 Nov 28 14:47
2012 Dec 28 10:23
The Full Moons occurring from March 2012 through July 2012 synchronize with the closest Lunar Perigees, and thus will look extra large and will produce increased tidal forces. The May 5 Full Moon occurs 1 minute to its perigee creating a perfect "Super Moon."
Later in the year, the New Moons will start to synchronize with the close Lunar Perigees, of course we do not see New Moons, but they will energetically be closer to Earth.
Related Articles:
The Energetics of a Full Moon: The Full Moon's Passage through Earth's Magnetotail