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[Centaur]

The 2012 May Full Moon will reach its peak illumination during the evening of Saturday May 5 at 20:57 CDT as viewed from Chicago. It will be the biggest and brightest since 2006 and until 2018 due to the greatest percentage of disk illumination virtually coinciding with perigee while the Moon hugs close to the ecliptic. The Full Moon’s angular diameter at 20:57 will be 33.6 arcminutes, and its brightness factor will be 1.042 for Chicago observers. See my panorama of fifteen 2012-13 Full Moons for comparisons: www.CurtRenz.com/moon

At the Adler the Moon will rise at 19:46 CDT and azimuth 114.5°, eight minutes before the Sun sets at 19:54. My complete 2012 Full Moon rising data can be found through the same link posted above.

A Full Moon is typically twelve times brighter than a Half Moon due to the oppositional flash. That’s caused by direct reflection with minimal shadowing. The upcoming Full Moon will be even brighter. Enjoy the show!

Photos and descriptions of the May Full Moon would be welcome additions to this thread. Below is my shot of last month’s Full Moon taken from Arlington Heights, Illinois on 2012 APR 06 at 19:49 CDT.

[Centaur]

The Chicago weather forecast for Saturday's Super Moon had been fairly decent, but now they're saying 40% chance of thunderstorms. Appeal to Diana the Moon goddess tonight for clear skies Saturday evening.

[Paulie pchris00]

Hmmm...

It's still far enough off that it could change, but it doesn't look good.

[Centaur]

May 2, 2012 13:38:51 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

Hmmm...

It's still far enough off that it could change, but it doesn't look good.

The forecast for Chicago is still 40% chance of thunderstorms and 60° at 20:00 CDT on Saturday. As you imply, Paulie, weather forecasters lately have been as off-target as Carlos Marmol. I hope that Joe is now relying on the correct moonrise time for Saturday: 19:46 CDT.

[Centaur]

Now the Chicago forecast for Saturday at 20:00 CDT is mostly cloudy with 0% chance of precipitation. That's quite an improvement, but more might be nicer. However, if the Moon peeks through cloud holes, that could make for some fabulous photos.

[Centaur]

As the evening began we were shut out here in Arlington Heights by a solid sheet of clouds. Then about 23:30 CDT the perfectly circular Moon could be discerned through thinning clouds. Now it's after midnight and the moon looks magnificent through what is still a bit of haze.

I normally only take photos of the Full Moon as it rises above a foreground landscape. Sorry, that wasn't possible tonight. I hope other Chicago Astronomers have pictures to share.

[erikruud]

I was with family in Utica Illinois and I did not have any equipment with me.

My brother in law took some shots with his new Nikon DSLR while the moon was coming up over the trees. I haven't seen them yet, I'll see if he can send them to me.

[Paulie pchris00]

My plan was to head to the observatory after leaving Adler, but when I had some transmission trouble on the Ryan, I thought better of it. By the time I got home, the sky was fairly clear, but I wasn't in the mood to haul out my scope again. I really wanted some shots of the Moon Saturday, but when the time came, my mind was elsewhere. Oh well. Next full Moon will be a good one, making it's way partially into Earth's shadow.