First Full Moon 2010: Biggest, Brightest Full Moon Of The Year Expected Tonight (POLL)

The first full moon of 2010 will appear tonight, Jan. 29, 2010, but it will also be the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. Some even call it a "supermoon."

Anyone with clear skies will be able to easily identify the moon tonight and get a spectacular view of its features, says Space.com.

The full moon tonight will be 2010's biggest and brightest since the moon is closer in orbit than usual at this time of year.

How much bigger and brighter? Spaceweather.com reports it will be 14 percent wider and 30 percent brighter than normal.

While full moons can be breathtaking to sky-gazers, they can be irritating to astronomers. The full moon is the No. 1 cause of natural light pollution, and its bright lighting -- especially tonight -- will dim stars and nebulae, making them quite difficult to see.

Quick Poll

Do you plan on catching a glimpse of the moon tonight?

Now I am, had no idea!

Already had special plans made

Will probably see it regardless

No, don't care

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[maserati2]

07:46 PM on 01/31/2010

It woke me at 4 a.m. It was so bright, I thought it was morning.

[elizlucinda]

08:22 AM on 01/31/2010

the moon was absolutely gorgeous.......I first saw it when it was perched on the horizon about 7.p.m.

[feyangel]

10:22 PM on 01/30/2010

It was last night-- and it was gorgeous.

[jumperpin]

07:11 PM on 01/30/2010

Uhh...why are my nail growing so...and my canines...and what's all this facial hair...

[WarriorLemming]

04:28 AM on 01/31/2010

Menopause, dear :D

[NoMercy]

05:12 PM on 01/30/2010

It's bright here! (south France)

I'm gonna get me a Moontan tonight!

[WarriorLemming]

04:14 PM on 01/30/2010

Have the right wing fringe already incorporated this unusually large moon into their apocalyptic tenor?

[way2muchsense]

03:34 PM on 01/30/2010

How can a natural phenomenon like the full moon be considered light pollution? Just because it hampers one's ability to see the stars?

[suzare]

02:57 PM on 01/30/2010

YEA!!! I love the Moon, but much to my dismay (and embarrassment), I still cannot *find* The Lady of the Moon" and have only on one ocassion been able to find "The Man in the Moon". True story ; I was very lost on Highway 98 along the Florida Panhandle one night long ago, and just as I was reaching a point of despair about locating the "yellow reflector next to the mailbox" so I could find my destination, I rounded a curve and The Man in the Moon hung so low in the sky so that I couldn't miss him this time, nor did I miss my destination as he lit up that yellow reflector too :*))

I will definitely be moon-watching tonight. Thanks for the heads-up!

[rf dude]

10:58 AM on 01/30/2010

As I write this at 7:55am Saturday morning, the moonshine reflecting off the sun is absolutely dazzling...

[quillsinister]

12:39 PM on 01/30/2010

Isn't it a little bit early to be hittin' the moonshine? ;-)

[HeevenSteven]

09:00 AM on 01/30/2010

"Anyone with clear skies will be able to easily identify the moon tonight"

That's good because I usually have trouble identifying the moon.

[Dexterplastic]

09:09 AM on 01/30/2010

haha...yeah, I caught that. I guess it's an assumption that there may be a person somewhere that can not pick out the moon from the myriad of comets, stealth bombers, and mile wide flying boomerangs that congest our skies./ That was a bright moon, with a 'wow' factor at 3 am when I put more wood on the fire. Ya could almost get a tan from it.

[Erzsebet Gilbert]

09:41 AM on 01/30/2010

: - ) !!!

[IWantTofu]

08:43 AM on 01/30/2010

From New Jersey, because of the light pollution from New York, the only thing you could see in the early evening sky over New York was the moon and Mars. Pretty spectacular.

[sabelmouse]

08:38 AM on 01/30/2010

can't say i noticed much difference. maybe toward the mornibg when i was sleeping? maybe it was brighter in america?

[Dexterplastic]

09:11 AM on 01/30/2010

Everything is brighter in America except our kids.

[KIVPossum]

02:09 AM on 01/30/2010

Last night was very cold and a light snow. We bundled up and took a long walk along a lake.

[love4eternity]

01:31 AM on 01/30/2010

Here in Duncan, Arizona, the moon is so bright and beautiful.

[LiberalBuzz]

12:58 AM on 01/30/2010

Here in Solvang, CA, it's a clear as a bell outside and the moon is brilliant.