Clear skies to reveal 'super moon'
Clear skies are expected to reveal a "super moon" phenomenon today as the Moon reaches its closest point to the Earth for almost two decades.
Star gazers will be hoping to see a bigger and brighter Moon than normal as it reaches the closest point to the Earth, referred to as a lunar perigee, since 1992.
But experts warn people will need to look very closely to spot the 0.3% difference.
A "super moon" refers to a new or full moon that occurs when the Moon is 90% or over its closest position to Earth.
It is the first time since January 19, 1992 that the Moon has come into such close proximity to the Earth.
Robert Massey, deputy executive secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society, said the Moon would make a more spectacular appearance than normal.
"The Moon will be unusually close and a little brighter but the visual effects of it being closer to the Earth are unlikely to be noticed by the human eye," he said.
"I would tell people to not expect a wow factor, but it's nice to go and look."
Mr Massey added that it will be difficult for those who are not regular star gazers to see a difference in the Moon's size, with it being just 0.3% bigger than this time last month.
The Moon will be 625 miles closer at 6.10pm this evening than it was a month before on February 18.
When the Moon is at its furthest distance from the Earth, referred to as an apogee, it can be as far away from Earth as 250,000 miles.
Mr Massey cast aside conspiracy theories that weather events occurring before or after lunar perigees, such as the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, are connected to the Moon's movements.
"It is very irresponsible of people to suggest that there is a connection between the super moon and the tsunami in Japan.
"At the time of the earthquake, the (Moon's) forces were at their weakest.
"Sadly life is not this simple. We shouldn't say it is so easy to predict these things and it is not based on sensible science."
Dr Carolin Crawford, an astronomer at Cambridge University's Institute of Astronomy, said that the difference in the Moon's size would be "fractional".
"Your average person in the street, and even myself as an astronomer, will not see anything different," she said.
"It's a normal full moon but it's called a super moon as it coincides with the Moon being closer to the Earth in its orbit.
"The crucial thing is that this is happening at the same time as the Sun, Moon and Earth are all in line."
