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The lunar orbit's major axis – the longest diameter of the orbit, joining its nearest and farthest points, the perigee and apogee, respectively – makes one complete revolution every 8.85 Earth years, or 3,232.6054 days, as it rotates slowly in the same direction as the Moon itself (direct motion) – meaning precesses eastward by 360°.
Lunar precession is a term used for three different precession motions related to the Moon. First, it can refer to change in orientation of the lunar rotational axis with respect to a reference plane , following the normal rules of precession followed by spinning objects.
The apsides refer to the farthest (2) and nearest (3) points reached by an orbiting planetary body (2 and 3) with respect to a primary, or host, body (1). An apsis (from Ancient Greek ἁψίς (hapsís) 'arch, vault'; pl. apsides / ˈ æ p s ɪ ˌ d iː z / AP-sih-deez) [1] [2] is the farthest or nearest point in the orbit of a planetary body about its primary body.
At perigee (closest), since the Moon is up to 14% closer to Earth than at apogee (most distant), it subtends a solid angle which is up to 30% larger. Consequently, given the same phase, the Moon's brightness also varies by up to 30% between apogee and perigee. [208] A full (or new) moon at such a position is called a supermoon. [202] [203] [209]
Compare it to a full moon at apogee (also called a micromoon), and a supermoon’s diameter can appear just shy of 14% percent larger. ... Full Moon Perigee (Full Supermoon) Table Courtesy of Fred ...
This shows that the smallest perigee occurs at either new moon or full moon (ca 356870 km), as does the greatest apogee (ca 406079 km), whereas the greatest perigee will be around half-moon (ca 370180 km), as will be the smallest apogee (ca 404593 km). The exact values will be slightly different due to other terms.
Tuesday’s moon followed the Aug. 19 super blue moon. A blue moon does not describe the color of the moon; instead, it refers to the third full moon occurring in a season with four full moons.
The opposite of a perigee, when the moon is at its farthest point, is called apogee. Perigee and apogee happen in each lunar cycle, but a supermoon only happens when the perigee happens on a full ...