Despite news reports, if you try driving without your headlights tonight you risk an accident and a ticket, according to astronomers.
The Internet is blamed for the rapid spread of a rumor that the moon will be bigger and brighter than ever before in history. The rumor contains some truth -- and a lot of exaggeration -- according to Patrick Wiggins of the Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City.
"I honestly think that if the Internet had not been there to make it easy for people to spread the rumor we wouldn't be talking about this," Wiggins told WorldNetDaily.
It is true that the moon will reach its closest point to the earth this morning, a few hours after the December solstice, and just a few hours before the moon becomes full. The moon will be closer to the earth than normal, but not the closest ever. And contrary to rumors, the moon will not be "so bright that you will be able to drive with your headlights off," as reported by CNBC news.
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It will be difficult to see any difference in the full moon this evening compared to past full moons, according to Wiggins. Although it may be slightly larger and brighter because of alignment with the sun and closeness to the earth, the difference will be so slight that only a light meter could detect it.
Reports also have claimed the moon will be the brightest ever because it will be so much closer to the earth than ever before, causing the moon to look exceptionally large.
Wiggins disputes the rumor with some additional facts from the U.S. Naval Observatory.
"People don't trust information from any authority, and when you tell them it's from the Naval Observatory, they'll say, 'See, a government conspiracy,'" joked Wiggins.
Although the moon will be closer to the earth than normal, it is not the closest ever. It will be a very "normal looking" full moon. Tides may run a bit higher and lower than normal, but that too will be difficult to actually observe, according to Wiggins.
The occurrence of a lunar perigee, solstice, and full moon so close together is not all that rare, according to astronomical data. It happened as recently as 1991, and before that in 1980.
Sky & Telescope magazine studied the statistics from 1800 to 2100 to determine if this is really the closest the moon has come to the earth.
"It turns out, then, that the Moon comes closer to Earth in the years 1893, 1912, 1930, and 2052 than it does in either 1866 or 1999. The difference in brightness will be exceedingly slight. But if you want to get technical about it, the full Moon must have been a little brighter in 1893, 1912, and 1930 than in either 1866 or 1999 (based on the calculated distances)," the magazine reported.
The brightest moon on record appeared back in 1912 when the moon and earth were both at their closest point to the sun on the same day. Belgian astronomer Jean Meeus took measurements in 1912 and calculated that the moon was 25 percent brighter than the "average" full moon.
"Certainly not enough to drive by without having an accident or getting a ticket," said Wiggins.
Other astronomical rumors have been spread across the Internet recently as well. Stories of comets about to hit the earth and destructive forces from a rare planetary alignment have also proven to be false, according to Wiggins.
"There was supposedly a comet that was going to hit the earth. It had already come as close to the earth as it would get and it was headed off to deep interplanetary space, and yet there was this noise going around that had people believing this thing was really coming towards us," he explained.
In addition to the Internet, Wiggins placed the blame for the rumors on some late night radio talk show hosts and science fiction.
The television show "Millennium" had an episode that dealt with a planetary alignment of all planets in the year 2000. The combination of all planets being in line at the same time was said to cause destructive forces.
"I guess some people have a problem telling the difference between science fiction and science fact. That one really surprised me. I tell people who call me that it's just a TV show. It's not real," said Wiggins.
The Hansen Planetarium offers free software on its website that enables anyone to check planetary alignments on any date.