Did you catch a glimpse of the Supermoon?

The moon, like a flower

In heaven's high bower,

With silent delight

Sits and smiles on the night.

~ William Blake ~

Approximately once in every 18 years, the full moon appears larger and brighter than usual.  This is because its elliptical orbital path brings it physically  closer to the earth than at any other time and it therefore appears to be up to 14% larger.  My husband, keen to test out  a newly read-up technique for taking great moon photographs, was out there trying out various options.  I hovered about, drinking in the sheer brilliance of this perfect, creamy orb, whilst  silently ducking beneath my garden's foliage  to discover different perspectives and angles from which to view the perigree moon, requesting, 'photograph it from here, please...and here...and here!'.  The air was perfectly still and for once, silence, so seldom complete in an urban environment, enveloped the scene, adding to the beauty and mystery of the moment.  I asked myself why it is that I don't venture outdoors more often to view the night sky.  I have no reason not to do so...what is your excuse?  

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The night walked down the sky with the moon in her hand.

~ Frederic Lawrence Knowles ~

That is the same moon that looks down upon your brothers and sisters and which they see as they look up, though they are ever so far away from us.

~ Sojourner Truth ~

When I admire the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.    

~ Mohandas Gandhi ~

    

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare?

~ W.H. Davies ~

~ Gaggy's Moon ~

There is an accompanying tale to the moon in this last picture...when our children were still tiny, my father (an enthusiastic amateur astronomer) used to take them outdoors to view the night sky when we holidayed with them at the Breede River.  Being far, far removed from bright city lights, the nights at the river were dark (jetblack!) and the stars were always extra bright.  He would patiently point out the constellations and tell them wonderful stories.  It was always a very special time for them! On full moon nights, my Dad would take delight in telling the children the moon was his and, as they called him 'Gaggy', a full moon, ever after, became known affectionately as 'Gaggy's Moon'!  When my parents emigrated a few years later, we used to remind the children of this, saying that he had sent the moon to shine down on them, so many thousands of kilometres away, so they would always know he was thinking of them.  Young as they were, it proved to be a foolproof way of reassuring them at those times when they were missing their grandparents more than usual!  I always remember this whenever I see a full moon!

Once again, my appreciation is due to my

patient husband

for having desisted from his own photographic opportunity

in order to first appease me

with my nagging request for pictures for my blog :)

  I tried with my point and shoot,

but the results were

hopeless!!! 

 He's going to have fun practising

on his own again, tonight! 

I'll be good and keep out of his way...

this time!

For more views of the Supermoon, visit Susan, from  East Gippsland.  She's the lovely author of the blog, This 'n That.  She took some beauties!

Here's the link:

http://justbesensiblesusan.blogspot.com/2011/03/some-more-supermoon-shots-viewed-from.html