Celestial Event - No MC Content

["Smith, Steven" <ssmith@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following is uncorroborated, but from a reliable source in the FAA:

> This year will be the first full moon to occur on the winter solstice,
December 22, commonly called the first day of winter, when the Earth's axial
tilt causes the point on the surface closest to the sun to its southernmost
position.  Since a full moon on the winter solstice occurs in conjunction
with a lunar perigee (point in the moon's elliptical orbit that is closest
to Earth), the moon will appear about 14% larger than it does at apogee (the
point in it's elliptical orbit 
that is farthest from the Earth).  Since the Earth is also several million
miles closer to the sun at this time of the year than in the summer,
sunlight striking the moon is about 7% stronger, thus making it appear
brighter.  Also, this will be the closest perigee of the Moon of the year
since the moon's orbit is constantly deforming.  If the weather is clear and
there is a snow cover where you live, it is believed that car headlights
will be superfluous that night.  On December 21st, 1866 the Lakota Sioux
took advantage of this combination of occurrences and staged a devastating
retaliatory ambush on soldiers in the Wyoming Territory.  In laymen's terms,
it will be a "super bright full moon", much more so than usual, AND it
hasn't happened for 133 years!  Our ancestors 133 years ago saw this.  Our
descendants 100 or so years from now will see it again.  Remember this will
happen Wednesday, December 22, 1999.  Mark your calendar. >

Interesting, eh?  Enjoy the show.

Crash (I might change my mind about night riding - for one night.)

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