Super Moon 2012: Spectacular Full Perigee Moon Photos

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Super Moon 2012: Photos of Huge Moon from Around the World 

Saturday night's full moon will be a once in a year experience, and has been dubbed a "super moon." The moon will look larger and brighter than all other full moons this year.

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The Super Moon is known technically as a perigee moon, and Saturday's will show the moon as 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than other full moons this year.

The moon take on an elliptical orbit around the Earth, which means its distance from our planet varies constantly. Scientists say that when a full moon appears at the same time it is at its closest point to the Earth, on the perigee side of the orbit, then a specularly large and bright moon will appear.

NASA has reported that the moon will reach its biggest and brightest point at about 11:34 p.m. EDT. At 11:35 p.m. EDT the moon will then line up with the Earth and Sun, which astrologers are saying will be an amazing display.

The last time a perigee moon was seen was March 19, 2011 - at that time the moon was about 250 miles closer than Saturday's.

It can be expected that tides will be higher than normal by about an inch or so - a phenomena that occurs when a perigee moon is in effect. Tides have been known to rise even more - sometimes as much as six inches - but usually only when local geographical influences are in effect.

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