Day 3 - 318 -- Supermoon

Look up tonight. If there are no clouds this will be the biggest and brightest the moon has been since 1948. The moon is called a supermoon tonight as this is when the moon's orbit is closest to earth this year. Added to that today is this is the closest orbit in 68 years. So -- it appears to be a super-supermoon, if you will.  It is truly brighter than usual out my back door tonight. The moonrises this past week have been lovely. Astronomers tell us that the height of this moon will occur Monday about 6 AM ET -- 7 AM where I live. They also say that viewing tomorrow works, too. So if there are clouds tonight, hopefully they will leave for a viewing tomorrow.

The moon has been part of human stories, legends and dreams since hominids mastered bipedal locomotion, and likely before that. Moon cycles affect tides, such that major storms during full moon phases create greater storm surge. There is no doubt of the power held by this body. Most poets speak of moonlight as a silvery colour, but I've seen it more as a pale gold.. It is reflected sunlight, after all. My furry friend has dark stripes interspersed with pale golden stripes -- I say he is the colour of moonbeams <smile> -- natures way to camouflage a nocturnal hunter. Moonlight does not give the same clarity of vision or colour as sunlight, but it can create shadows and light to give a hint of direction at night. Folklore is filled with moon-centric tales, giving rise to many words commonly used -- lunacy, lunatic, moonstruck -- many related to some type of madness. Again, a basic understanding of the power of the moon to affect humans by turning them into mythical creatures at full moon or create unusual behaviours. New mythology began after the Apollo program landed humans on the moon. I have touched a moon rock at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Nothing too odd has occurred from being in such close proximity to an actual piece of the moon, though -- well nothing that I am fully aware of, that is. <g>

So many songs exist from which to choose from for this posting. The one I share does include terms that relate to the 'super'  aspect of the lunar event we are witnessing tonight. While I was seemingly alone in my back yard this evening, I expect that there are many others silently watching the spectacle. I love the keyboard intro -- so '70s. Enjoy!

Dancing in the Moonlight -- King Harvest