Half Moon
Last night there was an extreme supermoon visible in Thailand. Much has been written about the “supermoon” phenomenon ranging from predictions of doom and gloom to more logical explanations on when and why it occurs.
So here are a few scientific facts to explain the phenomenon before we delve into the slightly more bizarre.
What is a Supermoon or Extreme Supermoon?
The supermoon or extreme supermoon is caused when the moon is closest in its orbit to the Earth, every year there are 4-6 supermoons, but extreme supermoons are much rarer with the last one occurring in January 2005. With the most extreme in recent history being back in 1992.
During last nights extreme supermoon the distance between the Earth and the Moon was about 221,567 miles, as compared to the average distance of 238,000 miles. Now this might not seem a great difference but the effect is said to be x7 magnification to the human eye.
Away from science some astrologers have different views on the effects of a supermoon.
Supermoons and Natural Disasters.
According to some astrologers a supermoon or extreme supermoon can be linked to natural disasters here on Earth. Particularly earthquakes and tsunami’s. These theorists will point out that the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004 occurred a couple of weeks before an extreme supermoon and that the more recent tragic events in Japan also occurred ten days before an extreme supermoon.
Supermoons and the Bizarre.
While many astrologers tend to focus on natural disasters associated with the extreme supermoon others go even further predicting conflict, war, financial crashes and all manner of ills befalling mankind. Locally here in Thailand I found this quote from an astrologer in the Bangkok Post on an article entitled, The Supermoon is Coming.
Pinyo Pongcharoen, president of the International Astrology Association, is predicting the supermoon will cause social conflict as lunar power tends to make people more unstable.
He is also warning people to prepare for natural disasters, especially those involving water.
What the Scientists Say About the Supermoon.
Scientists on the other hand would point out that at the times of the earthquakes and subsequent tsunami’s the moon was actually further from the Earth than it normally is. This is part of what Dr. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center has to say on the supermoon phenomenon:
The effects on Earth from a supermoon are minor, and according to the most detailed studies by terrestrial seismologists and volcanologists, the combination of the moon being at its closest to Earth in its orbit, and being in its ‘full moon’ configuration (relative to the Earth and sun), should not affect the internal energy balance of the Earth since there are lunar tides every day.
Effect of Extreme Supermoon in Prachuap Khiri Khan
Now it may of course just be a coincidence but for the last three days we have had some very unseasonal weather here in Prachuap Khiri Khan with really cool daytime temperatures and heavy rain. Now the supermoon has passed its a beautiful sunny morning and warm again.
While on the personal front Duen is not speaking to me this morning and is in a right grumpy mood.
Now whilst I certainly can’t explain the weather, Duen’s mood might have a more earthly explanation than any effects the supermoon might have been exerting since I fancy it is more about an insensitive comment I passed last night regarding Thai superstition when I caught her lighting incense sticks and praying in the garden.
So who do you think is right about extreme supermoons astrologers or scientists?
Footnote: It was too cloudy here last night to get any decent photographs of the moon but from what I did see it looked pretty much the same as any other full moon. The photograph is one I took last year of a half moon 
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