Micromoon to Light Up Michigan Skies Overnight
Get ready to witness the smallest appearance of the moon this year in Michigan's skies tonight.
Micromoon
Tonight, Michigan will be able to witness a rare celestial event known as a 'micromoon' or 'minimoon', where a full moon appears smaller due to its position far from Earth.
This phenomenon occurs when the full moon aligns with apogee, which is the furthest point in its orbit from Earth. In contrast, a supermoon occurs when the full or new moon coincides with perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit.
Astronomers have confirmed that February's full moon will be the smallest appearance of the moon this year, although it is unrelated to the moon's gradual shrinking.
Name Origins
The full moon in February is often referred to as the 'snow' moon, as it is associated with heavy snowfall during the winter season.
The name 'snow' moon has its origins in Indigenous naming traditions that are tied to the different seasons. However, this February has seen atypical weather patterns in Michigan, with near-record highs and minimal snowfall.
According to the Farmer's Almanac, Captain Jonathan Carver noted that the Naudowessie tribe, also known as the Dakota, used the name 'Snow Moon' for this time of the year due to the higher likelihood of snowfall compared to any other winter month.
Lunar Phase
The full moon officially began at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. On Friday, there was a waxing gibbous moon with 99% illumination.
Saturday marks the fifteenth day of the current lunar cycle, with the moon positioned over 250,000 miles away from Earth. NASA explains that the lunar cycle repeats every month as the moon orbits the Earth in an elliptical path.
This Saturday's full moon also signifies the last full moon of the winter season, with the next one expected on March 19, after the Spring Equinox.
