Lunar spectacle tonight-largest and brightest full moon of 2010

From Various Sources: Eugene

30 January 2010: According to Space.com the largest, brightest and first full moon of this year (2010) will be rising tonight, 30th January 2010. It will be seen in its full glory at around 8pm tonight. As an added attraction, Mars will be visible just towards the left of the moon as the reddish star-like object. According to reports, the moon will be 14 percent larger and 30 per cent brighter than the usual full moons of the year.

Explaining the reason for this phenomenon, director of Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) C.B. Devgun said that some full moons are genuinely larger than others and the one on Saturday, 30th January 2010 will be the largest of the year. This is because the moon orbits the earth in an elliptical orbit with one side 50,000 km closer to earth than the other. In astronomy these two extremes are called apogee, which means far away and perigee that means nearby. The moon at perigee looks larger and brighter than it looks in all other positions. Once or twice a year, perigee coincides with a full moon, as it will tonight, making the moon larger and brighter than any other full moons during the year.

There are certain myths associated with full moon. Many people think that full moons cause strange behaviour among human being and animals. There have been various studies to associate lunar phases to births, deaths, suicides, violent behaviour, etc. More epileptic seizures and admissions to psychiatric hospitals are said to have been reported during the full moon.