If you missed the Super Moon this past weekend, it’s very unfortunate and if you missed the Super Moon this weekend over San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, even more tragic.
Yes the entire world was looking up at the same moon on Saturday, May 5, 2012, as Earth’s glorious moon was and will be 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons of 2012. The scientific term for the phenomenon is “perigee moon.” Full Moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the Moon’s orbit around Earth. On the Perigee side of its orbit the moon is about 50,000 km closer. Full Moons that occur on the perigee side of the Moon’s orbit seem extra big and bright.
And so, island residents were treated with a spectacular display of Mother Nature, as the Super Moon made for a glorious evening as it rose above the coral reef horizon and shone very bright above La Isla Bonita. We are sure it gave for spectacular views elsewhere around the world but nothing beats a tropical moonrise in paradise. Here are a few great snapshots of the Super Moon in all its glory. (Headline Pic by Kay Scott: Blair and Steve and the Supermoon at Caprain Morgan’s.)
Omar Barreto: Ambergris Caye
Tanya Musso captures the moon from Burrel Boom, Belize
Folklore holds that all kinds of wacky things happen under the light of a full Moon. Supposedly, hospital admissions increase, the crime rate ticks upward, and people behave strangely. The idea that the full Moon causes mental disorders was widespread in the Middle Ages. Even the word “lunacy,” meaning “insanity,” comes from the Latin word for “Moon.”
The majority of modern studies, however, show no correlation between the phase of the Moon and the incidence of crime, sickness, or human behavior. The truth is, the Moon is less influential than folklore would have us believe.
Super perigee Moons are actually fairly common. The Moon becomes full within a few hours of its closest approach to Earth about once a year on average. The last such coincidence occurred on March 19th, 2011, producing a full Moon that was almost 400 km closer than this one. As usual, no trouble was reported–unless you count a midnight awakening as trouble.
