Extreme "SuperMoon" on March 19 may trigger tidal waves, earthquakes

The potential effects of the Moon's closest passing to Earth in 18 years may be exaggerated, however it is a fact that on March 19th, 2011, the Moon will illuminate our night sky from just 221,567 miles (356,577 kilometers; closest she has been in 18 years) away, and in addition, it will be full moon!

According to Universe Today:

It is a scientific fact when the Moon is at perigee there is more gravitational pull, creating higher tides or significant variations in high and low tides. In addition, the tidal effect of the Sun’s gravitational field increases the Moon’s orbital eccentricity when the orbit’s major axis is aligned with the Sun-Earth vector. Or, more specifically, when the Moon is full or new.



For those who totally dismiss the idea that 2012 "end of era" predictions may have been astronomically derived, next weekend could be the beginning of a revised world view. For those of us who look to the stars and other heavenly bodies as sometime causes of cataclysmic weather on Earth, it may be wise to seek inland, higher ground first. Then, and only after sanctuary has been found, we can hope and pray that this lunar event is benign.


Supermoon and astronomy related links:

Space.com Article: Will March 19 'Supermoon' Trigger Natural Disasters?


Universe Today: Supermoon or Superhype?


1993 Storm of the Century, 5 days after "supermoon"


Great Flood of 1993, from one month after to seven months after "supermoon"


UPDATE: AS Japanese earthquake / tsunami happened one day after this post, the following link was added on March 15th, 2011:

Historical and future extreme supermoons, links to Japan, Haiti, Indonesia earthquakes