Tonight You Can Be Moonstruck

Tonight it's a moon for lovers, photographers, and all those who are still struck with wonder at the night sky.

Tonight is a "Super Moon" -- a full moon that coincides exactly at the time it is closest to the earth in its monthly rotation, or its perigee.

Astronomers are saying that this Super Moon will be even more super than usual.

“The last full moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1993,” Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington D.C. told USA Today.

This Super Moon (a phrase coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979) will appear especially large because the moment of perigee will coincide with the appearance of a perfectly full moon. During last year’s Super Moon on March 19, 2011, for comparison, the perigee and full moon were 50 minutes apart.

On Saturday at 10:54 p.m., the moon reaches full moon status—when the earth, moon and sun are all in alignment, according to KCCI.com. One minute later, at 10:53 p.m., “perigee” will occur.

The best time to photograph a full moon though, experts say, is at “moonrise.” Moonrise in Des Moines on Saturday will take place at 8:11 p.m. When the moon is near the horizon, illusion mixes with reality to produce a truly stunning view, NASA reports. Low-hanging moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects.

Share your Super Moon photos with Patch. You can upload them by clicking on the box that says "Upload Photos and Video."

Will the weather cooperate?  The forecast is for partly cloudy skies and the possibility of rain later in the night Saturday, but WHO-TV was reporting that storms  may pass through after peak moon viewing time.

Where's the best place in Urbandale to photograph the moon?

Paul Dekker, Urbandale's Plan and Zoning Director is a "very amateur photographer" who knows a little about Urbandale's topgraphy, so we asked him to recommend spots.

Dekker said the moon will be rising in the southeasterly sky. He suggested photographing it with something in the foreground to give it perspective.

Walker Johnston Park would be a good spot. Start on the ballfields on the west side of the park because that's high ground and as the moon rises, walk to the spot you want for the best view.

Or Walnut Creek Regional Park because there's an open horizon there. Off Ridgemont Drive is a cul-de-sac that has the entrance to highest point of the trail that leads through the park. He recommended walking down the trail until you find a clearing of trees to photograph the moon.

Want a local landmark in the shot? How about shooting from downtown Des Moines? Or the moon rising over the state Capitol building.

What if you just want to share the moon with a special someone?

"I'll leave that one up to you," said Dekker.

Okay: How about the lighted bridge across Grey's Lake in Des Moines? Or the High Trestle Trail Bridge west of Madrid? The patio bar of a favorite restaurant? Or curled up together in a chaise lounge in the back yard.

Not interesting in romance? Here a few numbers for you by-the-book types:

• The moon will be 221,802 miles away from Earth Saturday night; (the average distance is 238,855 according to NASA.) That’s 17,053 miles closer.
• This all translates to a moon that will appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than other full moons this year, according to NASA.