Tonight is the full moon “snow moon”, the farthest full moon in 2024 – Weather News

2024-02-23 22:01:00

2024/02/24 07:01 Weather News

Today, February 24th (Saturday), there is a full moon. February’s full moon is also called the “Snow Moon” in the American agricultural calendar.

This full moon is also the farthest full moon in 2024.

Does it look slightly smaller?Reverse supermoon

Differences in distance and size of the full moon

This time, the full moon in 2024 will be at the furthest point from Earth. The closest full moon of the year is called a supermoon, but this time it will be the other way around.

The moon’s orbit around the earth is elliptical, and the moon’s orbit changes due to the gravitational forces of the sun and the earth. For this reason, the distance between the Earth and the Moon during a full moon or new moon is different each time.

The moon will be full at around 21:30 on the 24th (Saturday), and will pass its apogee (the point farthest from the Earth) at 23:59 on the 25th (Sunday). When the moon is full, the geocentric distance (the distance between the center of the Earth and the center of the celestial body) is approximately 406,000 kilometers, and the moon’s apparent diameter (the apparent size of the celestial body expressed in degrees) is approximately 29 minutes and 26 arc seconds. .

Compared to the full moon closest to Earth in 2024 (October 17), the apparent diameter will be regarding 12% smaller (the area will be regarding 22% smaller). Although it is difficult to see the difference in size with the naked eye, if you take a photo and compare it closely, you may notice a very small difference.

What’s the weather like?

Tonight, it will be sunny in many places from the Pacific side of northern Japan to the Kanto region, and we can expect to enjoy the full moon. Clouds are gradually spreading over Chugoku/Shikoku, the Tokai region, and the western part of Hokuriku, but there seems to be a chance to observe through gaps in the clouds or through the clouds.

The Sea of ​​Japan side of northern Japan, eastern Hokuriku, Kyushu and Okinawa will be covered with thick clouds, making the weather unlucky for observation.
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February’s full moon, “Snow Moon” in English

How to call the full moon in the agricultural calendar

In order to understand the seasons, Native Americans gave the full moon of each month a variety of names, such as animals, plants, and seasonal events.

According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, February’s full moon is called the “Snow Moon” in the United States. It is said that the name comes from “the season when the cold is severe and much of the land is covered in snow.”

Phenomenon review: What is the full moon?

Positional relationship of the sun, moon, and earth

The moon does not shine on its own; it shines because it reflects sunlight.

The apparent shape of the moon changes, such as crescent, waxing moon, full moon, or waning moon, depending on which direction the hemisphere of the moon is facing from the Earth.

Based on the direction of the sun as seen from the earth, the moment when the difference in ecliptic longitude between the direction of the sun and the direction of the moon is 0 degrees is a new moon, the moment when it is 90 degrees is a waxing moon (half moon), and the moment when it is 180 degrees is a full moon. (full moon), the moment of 270 degrees is defined as the waning moon (half moon), and it completes one revolution in regarding a month.

In other words, a full moon is the moment when the sun and moon line up in opposite directions when viewed from the earth (the moment when the sun, earth, and moon line up in that order, almost in a straight line).
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Source/Reference
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan “Star Sky Information” https://www.nao.ac.jp/astro/sky/
National Astronomical Observatory “Koyomi Computing Laboratory” https://eco.mtk.nao.ac.jp/koyomi/
Astro Arts “Starry Sky Guide” https://www.astroarts.co.jp/
The Old Farmers’ Almanac

Reference materials etc.

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