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Super full moon shines Saturday
by The Associated Press
Mar 20, 2011 | 1870 views | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
This moon photo taken on March 19, 2011 in West Point. Photo by Leah Alonso
This moon photo taken on March 19, 2011 in West Point. Photo by Leah Alonso
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The moon sets behind clouds and a farm house near Rose Hill, Kan., Sunday, March 20, 2011. The perigean moon is at its closest point to Earth since March 1993. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
The moon sets behind clouds and a farm house near Rose Hill, Kan., Sunday, March 20, 2011. The perigean moon is at its closest point to Earth since March 1993. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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LOS ANGELES — There was a full moon Saturday, but it wasn't any old full moon. It'll be bigger and brighter. It will appeared larger as it made its closest approach to Earth in 18 years.

Scientists estimate the "supermoon" rose in the east at sunset appeared 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter at its peak.

Full moons vary in size because of the oval shape of its orbit, with one end closer to Earth. On Saturday, the moon will be 221,565 miles away — the closest to Earth since March 1993.

While Saturday's full moon was brighter than normal, it won't be as luminous as the near-supermoon of 2008 when it was higher in the sky.

This type of full moon tends to bring a range of high and low tides, but experts say that's nothing to worry about. Nor is there any truth to the superstition that supermoons cause natural disasters.

Thanks to Leah Alonso of West Point for sending us her full moon photo. Click here to send us yours.
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