The howling supermoon
\u00a9 pjsells\/iStock<\/p><\/div>\n

The Howling Moon<\/h2>\n

\u00a0There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.
\n<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u2014George Carlin<\/p>\n

The August Supermoon made headlines. No surprise. We seem to revere supersize things (Mayor Bloomberg\u2019s jumbo soda ban notwithstanding). And, we often look to the sky for creative inspiration and a connection to the rhythms of the earth.<\/p>\n

Who wouldn\u2019t love a full moon so big and so bright, you could almost reach out and touch the textured craters?<\/p>\n

Everyone was excited. Astronomers. Photographers. Lovers. Howlers. Skywatchers. Media Magnates. There were “Oh, I see” moments<\/strong> all over the world, as the supermoon was promoted, studied, photographed, and discussed.<\/p>\n

A Perigean moon in France
\u00a9 Kathryn Kemp-Griffin<\/p><\/div>\n

By the Light of the Perigean Moon<\/h4>\n

The phenomena of Supermoons happens often enough to add terms like \u201capogee\u201d and \u201cperigee\u201d to our vocabulary, and yet rarely enough to gain media attention and send people in search of a vista where the moon will be clearly visible.<\/p>\n

A Supermoon occurs when the moon, sun, and earth are aligned (called\u00a0syzygy<\/em>), and when the moon comes closer to the earth than its standard orbit\u00a0(the exact definitions vary, but the gist is that the moon comes closer to the earth than normal by about 10%).<\/p>\n

When the moon is closest to the earth, it\u2019s called perigee<\/em>. When it’s at its farthest, it’s called apogee<\/em> (a micro moon).<\/p>\n

Supermoon at the Pinnacles National Park in California
\u00a9 David Taggart<\/p><\/div>\n

A Year of Supermoons<\/h4>\n

This year offered five Supermoons. The first two, in January, were new moons, not so super to the eye. The other three, however, are full moons\u2014July, August, and one yet to come on September 9.<\/p>\n

Although the difference between a Supermoon and a regular moon is difficult to detect for the average viewer, the perigee<\/em> is said to be about 14% bigger and 30% brighter.<\/p>\n

Scientific studies show that Supermoons have no significant link to natural disasters, but the tug on the oceans is visibly stronger (higher and lower tides).<\/p>\n

The Supermoons stir the creative juices, as well as (possibly) throwing a bit of \u201clunatic\u201d energy out into the cosmos.<\/p>\n

An iPhone’s impression of the Supermoon over Monterey Harbor in California
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

Photographers capture the Supermoon with varying artistic vision, in up-close-and-personal portraits and in conjunction with other elements\u2014a halo around a statue’s head;\u00a0a glowing orb in the palm of a hand;\u00a0a distant circle, dwarfed\u00a0by something larger in the foreground; mysterious silhouettes with the moon as backdrop.<\/p>\n

Supermoon from the rear deck of a cruise ship in Alaska
\u00a9 Lauren Gezurian-Amlani<\/p><\/div>\n

Hype and Hyperbole<\/h4>\n

The August Supermoon was well hyped in the media, and the upcoming Supermoon will surely take center stage on the evening of September 9th. Creative inspiration will continue.<\/p>\n

I say, whatever it takes to inspire us to stop for a moment and look at a beautiful rising moon in the stillness of the night . . . is OK by me.<\/p>\n

Comment<\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/em>on this post and include your best Supermoon photograph, or inspire insight with your own\u00a0OIC Moment\u00a0<\/em>here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

Thank you to Kathryn Kemp-Griffin for introducing me to the George Carlin quote.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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