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'Supermoon' Lights Skies This Weekend

Astronomers say the moon will appear 16 percent larger than normal as the moon's orbit reaches perigee—the closest point to the Earth reached in its orbit.

Stargazers on the island are in for a treat—if the weather cooperates.

According to astronomers at Discovery.com, the moon will officially become full on Saturday at 8:35 p.m. PDT. And because this month's full moon coincides with the moon's perigee—its closest approach to Earth—it will also be the year's biggest.

The lunar orbit is not a perfect circle, so the moon's distance from the earth varies with each revolution. The moon's average distance from Earth is 237,700 miles, but this week the moon will come within 221,802 miles from Earth, causing higher- and lower-than-normal tides in the Puget Sound.

The "super moon" might be mostly obscured by clouds and rain for much of this week, with National Weather Service forecasters predicting mostly cloudy conditions at night. But Sunday's forecast calls for sunshine during the day high near 66, and a partly cloudy evening, with a low around 46.

Happy gazing.

Help your neighbors out: what are your tips for great sky watching?

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Tu-Ha Nguyen November 16, 2010 at 06:16 am
Dear Venice: What a wonderful welcome video -- great work! Your Bellevue Patch is informative,Read More creative, professional and thoughtful. Way to go! Can't wait to see the Shoreline-L.F.P. Patch edition. Best wishes to you Venice.