Super Moon Phenomenon

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In March 2011 we saw the rare sight in our night sky of the "Super Moon". It was a fantastic opportunity for amateur astronomers and stargazers alike to get some stunning images of the moon and its battered and bruised surface. On this occasion the "Super Moon" orbited the earth closer than it has for the last 19 years. This is very strange to see as we now know, since we landed on the moon, the moon is actually moving away from us at a rate of 3.7cm every year. We can measure this exactly by sending a laser up and bouncing it back off a mirror left on the moons surface by Neil Armstrong and his team. Although we have had super moons more recently than 19 years, the moons orbit on these occasions have not been quite as close.

This phenomenon is open for huge debate. Following the devastating earthquakes in New Zealand, Japan and the tsunami that followed, approximately 2 weeks after the events in Japan, we have seen the moon pull in closer to the earth. The last time we were able to detect the moon shortening its orbit was in 2005, coincidentally or not, two weeks after the tsunami in Indonesia that followed a 9.4 magnitude quake out at sea.

Now, we know the moon has it's own gravitational effect on the earth by tidal activity therefore, The closer the moon gets to the earth, in theory, the greater the effect it's gravity has on earth. This is where the theory becomes questionable because some scientists will say that when the gravitational effect the moon has on the earth increases, this will trigger a "Megaquake" across one or all of the earths fault lines within the next two weeks (cycle of the moon), or cause one of the earths mega volcanoes to erupt which would be catastrophic. This is believed because the gravity of the moon, as i mentioned pulls our seas in towards it and it also pulls the earths crust to a certain extent. One only has to imagine that a shifting fragile crust could easily crack and shake the earths crust on an unpredictable scale

There is no evidence to suggest that this is true as earthquake events and volcanic eruptions that have occurred within the two week time scale Have not been directly linked to lunar activity.

I believe we will only see lower tides than usual during the cycle as the moons gravity continues to swell our seas as it has always done and we may see more shoreline than usual. Watch this space.

Until then, clear skies.

About the Author:
I have put together a Information website that will be going into great detail for stargazers of all experiences along with forthcoming unmissable astronomical events, take a look http://stargazerdownload.blogspot.com/



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