The full moon falling on December 3, 2017, presents the year’s one and only full moon supermoon. Of 2017’s 12 full moons, only the December 2017 full moon comes close enough to Earth (222,443 miles or 357,987 km) to enjoy supermoon status. The astrologer Richard Nolle, who is credited for coining the term, defines a supermoon as “a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.” Presumably, that means any new moon or full moon coming closer than 362,000 km of Earth in 2017 counts as a supermoon. This month, the full moon and lunar perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit – happen less than one day apart. The full moon comes on December 3, at 15:47 Universal Time (UTC), and lunar perigee takes place on December 4 at 8:42 UTC. The December 2017 supermoon features the first of three full moon supermoons in succession. The two full moons in January 2018 – on January 2 and 31 – also count as supermoons. As is typically the case, the second of these three full moon supermoons most closely coincides with lunar perigee, showcasing the closest and largest supermoon in this grand procession of supermoons.
Everyone is welcome at this Mondays in Manassas event. Be sure to bring your appetite, your geocaching stories, and trackables to share.
Location: Firehouse Subs, 8097 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20109
Date: Monday, December 11, 2017 (note that this event is on the customary second Monday of the month)
Time: 5:30pm to 8-ish.
If you think you will not arrive until after 7:00pm, please post this with your "Will Attend" log. Sometimes the group breaks up early. If we know you are coming late, we'll wait for you. Thanks.