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Arts & Entertainment

Moon over Farmingdale, Where's the Best Place to See it?

It's been nearly 20 years since the moon was this close to Earth.

No, the moon isn't growing in size, it's just closer to our home planet.

NASA explains:

The full Moon has a reputation for trouble. It raises high tides, it makes dogs howl, it wakes you up in the middle of the night with beams of moonlight stealing through drapes. If a moonbeam wakes you up on the night of May 5th, 2012, you might want to get out of bed and take a look.  This May’s full Moon is a "super Moon,” as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full Moons of 2012.

Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Scientists call this giant moon a "perigee moon" because the moon's oval shaped orbit takes it on a path around the earth that is closer to the planet on one side, or perigee. The other side - when the moon is farthest from the earth - is called apogee. 

Still following? Good. We continue ... On Saturday at 11:34 p.m. the Moon will reach perigee and appear super sized. Astronomers say that moon will actually look super big before that. When it rises at 7:46 p.m. the Moon will appear larger than usual when compared to trees and buildings in the foreground. According to earthsky.org there will also be bigger tides on Saturday as well.

Find out what's happening in Farmingdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Take pictures of the moon and upload them to the gallery, or email the pictures to david@patch.com

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