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Photos: Saturday Night's Super Moon

Saturday night's moon was larger and brighter than usual.

 
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Saturday night's Super Moon. Leah Kosin
Photos (11)

Photos

Saturday night's Super Moon.
Saturday night's Super Moon as seen from Leesburg.

A cloudy night in Northern Virginia obscured the Super Moon for many. For those who could see it, Saturday night's moon appeared about 15 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than other full moons this year, according to NASA.

The Super Moon (a phrase coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979) seemed  large because the moment of perigee—when the moon is closest to the Earth in its monthly rotation—coincided with the appearance of a perfectly full moon, according to the Smithsonian.

On Saturday at 11:34 p.m. ET, the moon reached full moon status—when the earth, moon and sun are all in alignment. One minute later, at 11:35 p.m., “perigee” occurred.

The moon was be 221,802 miles away from Earth Saturday night; (the average distance is 238,855 according to NASA.) That’s 17,053 miles closer.

Did you take photos of Saturday night's Super Moon? Upload them here by clicking on the 'upload' button above!

Having trouble? Email photos to Regional Editor Beth Lawton at beth@patch.com.

Related Topics: super moon

ET1221

11:23 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2012

I am reading this story before 11:30 pm, but it is written in past tense? I'm not nit-picking, but am truly disappointed as the moon still is not visible at last check due to cloud cover! Hope someone can appreciate it and take pics...

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Jennifer K. Wall Smetek

12:43 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012

Too cloudy in Fairfax Station area. Was able to catch a glimpse about 9pm from Alexandria, but was quickly covered again.

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Melanie Meren

9:29 pm on Sunday, May 6, 2012

Cool pictures! Thanks for posting!

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Lauren Jost

5:49 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012

Awesome photo, Rick! Must've been cool to see from the plane.

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