GO outside and look at the moon!

[gateley]

Somebody had posted that tonight it would be the brightest moon EVER, and I just heard somebody on the radio saying something about Hubble not being able to see something or other because of all the light coming off of the moon. I went out and looked and I could see the aura of it over the top of my house. Stepped out, looked up, and it is REALLY bright - and there's a huge, perfect circle around it that looks REALLY clear -- almost as though the moon had 'burned' off the atmosphere around it.

I hope you're somewhere that it's clear!

[0007]

1. Tis big and full.....

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear gateley!

I just went outside, and had a good, long look at it!

The sky is very dark, and very clear...

The moon is luminous!

There's no circle around it here...

Those are ice crystals, I believe...

It's very beautiful, and I thank you for the reminder to look at our natural world from time to time...

The shadows from its light are sharp and crisp...

Wonderful!

:hug:

[Triana]

3. WOW! Went and looked and...

...it is bright and clear and there is a huge ring around it! And just within that ring, a star. It looks really cool!

[gateley]

4. Yeah - I forgot to mention the star -- I think it might be Venus, but I'm not sure.

I'm happy you had a chance to take a look!

[Lex]

13. It's Mars.

"Mars and Moon to Light Up Christmas Eve Sky" ---->

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/12/24/science-mars.html

[Lex]

12. I saw the ring around the moon (and mars) tonight too!

Earlier, around 10:30pm, and it was beautiful.

[elleng]

5. moon

Mars and the Moon on December 24 will cross the sky together in a beautiful display, according to NASA.
The 98-percent-full Moon on Christmas Eve might also be the “brightest you’ve ever seen,” because it will be the highest-riding Moon we will experience until 2023.

http://parallelnormal.com/2007/12/20/moon-on-christmas-eve-brightest-youve-ever-seen/

[gateley]

6. That's right - it was you who posted that! Thanks! It's breathtaking. What does

it look like up your way?

[elleng]

16. Difficult to see at moment;

trees in way. Will check from upstairs.

Happy Holiday!

E

[Raejeanowl]

7. Wow

It's not totally unobstructed where it hangs in our sky (low and to the west of me, behind a large stand of bare trees) BUT...the effect of that bright moon shining through the twisted branches is eerie, like multiple spotlights beaming. I honestly don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

8. Thanks!

Made the boys go out and look too. :)

[rockymountaindem]

9. You're right!

Plus it's reflecting off the snow here, so things are really shiny out there.

[murielm99]

14. The moon,

on the breast of the new-fallen snow
gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.

[Lucinda]

10. Thanks gateley. Bright moon and a perfect ring!

"When there's a ring around the moon, rain or snow is coming soon" or so the saying goes...

[Liberal In Texas]

11. It was awsome last night when it was full.

Amazing.

[Forkboy]

15. And we get Mars as a bonus!

[TechBear_Seattle]

17. It gets that way every four weeks or so

Ain't nature grand? :hi:

[alphafemale]

18. There's a ring around in GA

It's awesome.

[troubleinwinter]

19. I'm a mile high in the Arizona mountains. About 4 hours ago, at my dad's house, I stepped outside

for a smoke. Told my dad, "The moon is practically BLINDINGLY bright! I've never seen it so bright!" He's an astronomer, and he said, "Uh-huh." ???!!!

[ClayZ]

20. Thanks! We saw Santa and 8 tiny reindeer!

K and R

[MuseRider]

21. I saw it last night and the first thought I had

was this lyric from Dan Fogelberg. A lovely song that I always hear when there is a ring around the moon. It was very bright, there is snow on the ground, it might as well have been daytime.

Merry Christmas to all. If you have never heard this song this is my gift to you. Maybe this particular moon was his gift to us to go with this beautiful song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ypdswv6rtZQ

There's a ring around the moon
tonight
And a chill in the air
And a fire in the stars that
hang -- so near;
so near.

There's a sound in the wind that
blows
Through the wild mountain holds
Like the sighs of a thousand crying
souls;
Crying souls --

There's a time when the traveller
is fated to find
That insight has turned his gaze
behind -- behind
And the steps taken yesterday
Will beckon again
And lead to his weary journey's
end -- journey's end.

And in the passage
From the cradle to the grave
We are born, madly dancing
Rushing headlong through the
crashing of the days
We run on and on
Without a backwards glance
We run on and on
Without a backwards glance.

But I cast my fate with the
wife of Lot
I turned my gaze around
Knowing neither what was sought
nor what was to be found
Heeding weakness, feeding
strength
Life at length is frail
I seek again the river's source
through time's dark shadowed veil.

In the fast fading century as we spin through the years
I pray that our failing vision
clears -- our vision clears.

And in the passage
From the cradle to the grave
We are born, madly dancing
Rushing headlong through the
crashing of the days
We run on and on
Without a backwards glance
We run on and on
Without a backwards glance.

The places dash and the faces
dart
Like fishes in a dream
Hiding 'neath the murky banks
of long forgotten streams
The lines of life are never long
when seen from end to end
The future's never coming
and the past has never been.

There's a ring around the moon
tonight
And a chill in the air
And a fire in the stars that
hang -- so near;
so near.

[taterguy]

22. It's 9:15 AM on the East Coast

I don't see nothin

[MindPilot]

23. Still bright and beautiful in SoCal just before sunrise.

But bitter cold -- 51 degress F.