In response to last month’s supermoon mania, Lake brings you the lowdown on lunar lore
The Moon became a star on Nov. 14 when it achieved “Supermoon” status. “Supermoon” means the Moon and Earth are at their closest point in the Moon’s orbit at the same time that the Moon phase is full. The last time it was as close was Jan. 26, 1948; the next time will be Nov. 25, 2034. All that combined to make the November Supermoon a big deal.
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmqFE E96 |@@? :D 2=H2JD 2 3:8 562= :? @FC ?:89E D<J]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`QmxE’D E96 4=@D6DE 46=6DE:2= 3@5J E@ t2CE9[ E96 3C:89E6DE @3;64E :? E96 ?:89E D<J 2?5 492?86D 2AA62C2?46D 4@?DE2?E=J] pD 2 C6DF=E[ E96 |@@? 9@=5D 2? F?A2C2==6=65 72D4:?2E:@? 7@C A6@A=6 E@52J[ ;FDE 2D :E 92D D:?46 E96 7:CDE 9F>2?D =@@<65 E@H2C5 E96 962G6?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm!6@A=6 =F4<J 6?@F89 E@ DA6?5 E:>6 @? {2<6 |2CE:? 2C6 5@F3=J 3=6DD65 H:E9 =F?2C @3D6CG2E:@?D D:?46 E96 C6=2E:G6=J 52C< 2C62D 2C@F?5 @FC =2<6 >2<6 E96 |@@? =@@< E92E >F49 3C:89E6C E92? H96? :E :D G:6H65 7C@> 2 =:E\FA 4:EJ[ 2?5 E96 |@@?’D C67=64E:@? :? E96 DE:== ?:89E =2<6 DFC7246 >2<6D 2?J =F?2C G:6H:?8 EH:46 2D >F49 7F?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm$@ 7@C @FC }2EFC6 @7 E96 {2<6 762EFC6 E9:D >@?E9[ H6 564:565 E@ E2<6 2? :?\56AE9 =@@< 2E E96 |@@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmu:CDE @77[ E96 |@@? :D 2 >@@?] %96 42A:E2= ‘|’ |@@? :D E96 ?2>6 @7 E96 46=6DE:2= 3@5J E92E @C3:ED t2CE9] ~FC |@@? :D 2=D@ 2 =@H6C 42D6 ‘>@@?[’ H9:49 :D E96 H@C5 FD65 E@ 56D4C:36 2?J =2C86 3@5J @C3:E:?8 2 A=2?6E] %96C6 2C6 2 E@E2= @7 `fb >@@?D :? @FC D@=2C DJDE6> @C3:E:?8 E96 A=2?6ED |6C4FCJ[ '6?FD[ t2CE9[ |2CD[ yFA:E6C[ $2EFC?[ &C2?FD 2?5 }6AEF?6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 |@@? :D t2CE9’D @?=J ?2EFC2= D2E6==:E6] xE :D 23@FE 2 7@FCE9 E96 D:K6 @7 t2CE9[ H:E9 2 5:2>6E6C @7 a[`dh >:=6D] %@ AFE E92E :? A6CDA64E:G6[ E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :D 23@FE a[eg_ >:=6D H:56]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 DFC7246 2C62 @7 E96 |@@? :D 23@FE `c]e >:==:@? DBF2C6 >:=6D[ =6DD E92? E96 DFC7246 2C62 @7 pD:2[ H9:49 4@G6CD 23@FE `f]a >:==:@? DBF2C6 >:=6D] $4:6?E:DED E9:?< E96 >@@? :D c]e 3:==:@? J62CD @=5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmt2CE9’D >@@? :D @?=J E96 7:7E9 =2C86DE >@@? :? @FC D@=2C DJDE6> – v2?J>656[ H9:49 @C3:ED yFA:E6C[ :D E96 =2C86DE >@@? :? @FC DJDE6> 2E b[afb >:=6D H:56] }6IE :? D:K6 :D %:E2?[ H9:49 @C3:ED $2EFC?[ 2?5 E96? r2==:DE@ 2?5 x@[ H9:49 @C3:E yFA:E6C] tFC@A2[ H9:49 2=D@ @C3:ED yFA:E6C[ 4@>6D :? D:IE9 A=246 27E6C @FC >@@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 |@@?’D @C3:E 2C@F?5 t2CE9 :D 2? 6==:AE:42=[ ?@E 4:C4F=2C[ H9:49 >62?D E92E[ 2E E:>6D[ :E :D 4=@D6C E@ t2CE9 E92? @E96C E:>6D] xE E2<6D af]b 52JD 7@C E96 |@@? E@ @C3:E E96 t2CE9[ C@F89=J – 3FE ?@E 6BF2= E@ – 2 >@?E9 @? @FC >@56C? 42=6?52C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 >@@? :D >256 @7 C@4< 2?5 5@6D ?@E 6>:E =:89E] (96? H6 D66 E96 >@@? :? E96 D<J[ H6 2C6 D66:?8 E96 $F?’D =:89E 9:EE:?8 @?6 D:56 @7 E96 |@@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%96 D2>6 D:56 @7 E96 |@@? 2=H2JD 7246D E96 t2CE9] (:E9 2A@=@8:6D E@ !:?< u=@J5[ E96C6 :D ?@ DF49 E9:?8 2D “%96 s2C< $:56 @7 E96 |@@?” D:?46 3@E9 D:56D C646:G6 E96 D2>6 2>@F?E @7 DF?=:89E 2D E96 |@@? C@E2E6Dj 9@H6G6C[ D:?46 E96 |@@? C@E2E6D @? :ED 2I:D 2E 6I24E=J E96 D2>6 C2E6 E92E E96 |@@? C@E2E6D 2C@F?5 E96 t2CE9[ H6 @?=J D66 @?6 7246 @7 E96 |@@?] %96 @E96C W?@E 52C<X D:56 @7 E96 |@@? 92D 366? D66? :? DF?=:89E 3J @?=J 2 76H 9F>2?D – E9@D6 H9@ D2H :E 7C@> 2 DA2464C27E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm}6:= pC>DEC@?8[ 2 >6>36C @7 E96 pA@==@ `` 4C6H[ H2D E96 7:CDE A6CD@? E@ 6G6C D6E 7@@E @? E96 |@@?[ :? `heh] (96? 96 DE6AA65 7C@> E96 =F?2C >@5F=6 @?E@ E96 |@@?’D DFC7246[ E96 A6@A=6 @? t2CE9 962C5 9:D 72>@FD H@C5D[ “%92E’D @?6 D>2== DE6A 7@C >2?[ @?6 8:2?E =62A 7@C >2?<:?5[” EC2?D>:EE65 3J C25:@j 9@H6G6C[ pC>DEC@?8 D2:5 E96 H@C=5 962C5 HC@?8[ 6IA=2:?:?8 E92E H92E 96 C62==J D2:5 H2D[ “%92E’D @?6 D>2== DE6A 7@C 2 >2?[ @?6 8:2?E =62A 7@C >2?<:?5[” H9:49 >2<6D >@C6 D6?D6] }@ >2EE6C 9@H J@F 962C :E[ :E H2D 2 3:8 DE6A]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm~?=J `a A6@A=6 92G6 6G6C H2=<65 @? E96 |@@?[ 2?5 2== H6C6 p>6C:42? >2=6D H9@ 6IA6C:6?465 H6:89E =@DD @?=J 5C62>65 23@FE 3J E96 7@=<D @? E96 $@FE9 q6249 s:6E] %96 |@@?’D 8C2G:EJ :D 23@FE `f A6C46?E @7 8C2G:EJ @? t2CE9] %92E >62?D 2 A6CD@? H9@ H6:89D `__ A@F?5D @? t2CE9 H@F=5 H6:89 @?=J `f A@F?5D @? E96 |@@?] pD 2 C6DF=E[ 2 A6CD@? H9@ 4@F=5 ;F>A `_ 766E @? t2CE9 4@F=5 ;F>A 2=>@DE e_ 766E @? E96 |@@?[ 2 762E @?=J 5C62>65 23@FE 3J 9:89 ;F>A6CD E96 H@C=5 @G6C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmq24< @? t2CE9[ H6 D66 E96 |@@? 8C25F2==J 492?86 D92A6D 6249 >@?E9] %96 A92D6D @7 E96 |@@? 2C6 C62==J @FC A@:?E @7 G:6H @7 E96 DF?=:89E D:56 @7 E96 |@@? 2D :E @C3:ED E96 t2CE9]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qm%@ F?56CDE2?5 =F?2C A92D6D[ :E 96=AD E@ F?56CDE2?5 7@FC =F?2C E6C>D] “rC6D46?E” >62?D =6DD E92? 92=7 E96 |@@? :D =:E 3J E96 DF? D@ E92E :E 2AA62CD =:<6 2 E9F>3?2:=] “v:33@FD” >62?D >@C6 E92? 92=7 E96 >@@? :D =:E 3J E96 DF?[ D@ :E 2AA62CD 2D 2 =@AD:565 32==] “(2I:?8” >62?D 8C@H:?8[ 2?5 “H2?:?8” >62?D D9C:?<:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp =F?2C 64=:AD6 :D H96? E96 |@@?[ t2CE9 2?5 $F? 2C6 =:?65 FA :? E92E @C56C D@ E92E E96 t2CE9’D D925@H EC2G6=D 24C@DD E96 |@@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmp D@=2C 64=:AD6 :D H96? E96 E9C66 3@5:6D 2C6 =:?65 FA D@ E92E E96 |@@? A2DD6D :? 7C@?E @7 E96 DF? 2?5 :ED D925@H EC2G6=D 24C@DD E96 t2CE9]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQD`Qmw2G6 J@F 6G6C ?@E:465 E92E E96 |@@? 2AA62CD >F49 =2C86C H96? :E 7:CDE C:D6D 23@G6 E96 9@C:K@? E92? H96? :E :D 9:89 :? E96 D<Jn %92E’D 2? @AE:42= :==FD:@? 42==65 E96 “!@?K@ x==FD:@?” 42FD65 3J @FC >:?5D 4@>A2C:?8 E96 |@@? E@ EC66D 2?5 @E96C @3;64ED :E A2DD6D 3J @? E96 9@C:K@?] %96 A9@E@ @7 E96 |@@? 369:?5 E96 $>:E9 |@F?E2:? u:C6 %@H6C @? E96 4@G6C @7 E9:D :DDF6 =@@<D 9F86 :? 4@>A2C:D@? E@ E96 E@H6Cj 9@H6G6C[ :7 J@F 9@=5 J@FC E9F>3 36D:56 E96 |@@? 2D :E 4@>6D @G6C E96 9@C:K@?[ 2?5 E96? 282:? H96? :E :D 9:89 :? E96 D<J[ J@F H:== D66 :E :D E96 D2>6 D:K6 4@>k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmA2C65 E@ J@FC E9F>3 :? 3@E9 :?DE2?46D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmp?5 23@FE E92E DFA6C>@@? – :7 J@F >:DD65 :E =2DE >@?E9[ J@F’C6 :? =F4<]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96C6’D 2?@E96C D=:89E=J D>2==6C DFA6C>@@? 4@>:?8 @? s64] `c[ E96 =2DE @7 E9C66 E92E @44FC :? a_`e]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm%96 ?6IE 3:8 3FKK\H@CE9J 46=6DE:2= 6G6?E G:6H23=6 7C@> p=232>2 H:== 36 4@>:?8 E9:D DF>>6C @? pF8] a`[ H96? E96C6 H:== 36 2 E@E2= D@=2C 64=:AD6 G:D:3=6 7C@> E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm~? E92E 52J[ E96 |@@? H:== A2DD :? 7C@?E @7 E96 DF?[ 4@>A=6E6=J 3=@4<:?8 E96 DF? 2?5 >2<:?8 :ED 4@C@?2 G:D:3=6 7C@> >2?J A2CED @7 E96 &]$][ :?4=F5:?8 ?62C3J :? %6??6DD66 2?5 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2] %96 6G6?E H:== 2AA62C 2D 2 A2CE:2= =F?2C 64=:AD6 7C@> >@DE @7 }@CE9 p>6C:42[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 {2<6 |2CE:? 2C62] %96 =2DE E@E2= D@=2C 64=:AD6 G:D:3=6 7C@> E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D H2D :? `hfh[ E96 ?6IE E:>6 H:== 36 :? a_ac]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmxE’D 2 3:88:6[ 2? 6G6?E C2C6C E92? 2 q=F6 |@@?[ H9:49[ 3J E96 H2J :D H96? EH@ 7F== >@@?D 72== :? E96 D2>6 42=6?52C >@?E9]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmx? 724E[ E96C6 H:== 36 7@FC q=F6 |@@?D 367@C6 E96 ?6IE E@E2= D@=2C 64=:AD6 :? a_ac[ 2?5 92=7 @7 E96> H:== @44FC :? a_`g – @? y2?] a 2?5 b` 2?5 |2C49 a 2?5 b` – >2<:?8 a_`g 2 5@F3=6 q=F6 |@@? J62C[ 2 DFA6C\C2C6 6G6?E E92E H@?’E 92AA6? 282:? F?E:= a_bf]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQm(9:49[ :7 J@F C6>6>36C[ :D E9C66 J62CD 27E6C E96 ?6IE DFA6C>@@? :? a_bc]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmk6>mx7 J@F H@F=5 =:<6 E@ <?@H >@C6 23@FE E96 |@@?[ 4964< @FE }p$pUCDBF@jD c\`^a >:?FE6 G:56@[ }2CC2E65 %@FC @7 E96 |@@?[ @? *@F%F36] p?@E96C H63D:E6 7F== @7 8@@5 =F?2C :?7@C>2E:@? :D k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^$A246]4@>Qm$A246]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQDaQmk6>m$@>6 :?7@C>2E:@? 7@C E9:D 2CE:4=6 42>6 7C@> }p$p[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]DA246]4@>QmHHH]DA246]4@>k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]62CE9D<J]@C8QmHHH]62CE9D<J]@C8k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]:2?C:5A2E9]4@>QmHHH]:2?C:5A2E9]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^DA2?mk^Am