On Thursday, September 7, 2006, we will get to see the closest full moon of the year. The moon hits its full phase on the same day that it is at perigee. Perigee is the point in the moon's elliptical orbit around Earth when it comes the nearest to our planet. Not all perigees are created equal, however. During this particular perigee the moon will be 221,938 miles from Earth. A partial lunar eclipse also occurs during this full moon, however it will not be visible anywhere in North America. The eclipse is centered on the Indian Ocean, and areas of Asia, Western Australia and Eastern Africa will have the best views.
One week later, on September 14, 2006, the northernmost moon of the year will rise as a waning crescent. At 28 degrees, 43 minutes, and 22 seconds of geocentric declination north of the equator, this appearance is not only the northernmost moon of the year, but also the northernmost moon for the entire century. The next northernmost moon that will come close (but not quite as far north as this one) will occur on March 7, 2025. For most places in the United States, moonrise will occur before midnight local time. There are a number of ancient structures that may have been built around the northernmost moon occurrence and its 18-year cycle, including Chimney Rock Historic Site in Colorado and Octagon Earthworks in Ohio.
Just one week and a day after this, on September 22, 2006, the most distant moon of the year occurs during new moon phase. The moon will now have swung wide from its closest full moon appearance to 252,587 miles distant from Earth. Sunrise this evening marks the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. The next day, September 23, ushers in the autumnal equinox at 12:03 a.m. EDT. Try to catch the young moon that evening about 20 minutes after sunset. It will be poised just a few degrees below Mercury. The infant moon will be easiest to find if you live in south and west areas of the United States. The sighting of the first crescent moon marks the start of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. Depending on where the worshipper lives, this may occur on September 23 or not until September 24. The Islamic calendar is based on lunar months, and during the month of Ramadan worshippers are expected to fast during daylight hours. As the colder seasons approach, every day the sun will rise about a minute later and set about two minutes sooner.
Just to throw in one more lunar extreme for the month, the year's southernmost nighttime moonset occurs on September 28. All month long as the moon has been setting one record or another, it has been sharing the limelight as it makes close pairings with planetary and stellar beauties. Track it early morning and in the evening and see what it shows you. And, as always, hope for clear skies.
