Spooky 'Honey' Moon Casts Glow on Friday the 13th (Photos)
Today's full moon might have been extra spooky for the superstitious.
The moon officially turned full at 12:11 a.m. EDT (0411 GMT) on Friday the 13th, and stargazers captured some amazing photos of the rare sight. A Friday the 13th full moon will not rise again for another 35 years. The amber-colored moon also probably looked full Thursday night (June 12) because the natural satellite usually appears full a day or two before and a day or two after the moon actually turns full.
When the first of the month is a Sunday, the month also has a Friday the 13th. This follows "Pelletier's Law," named after stargazer Leslie C. Peltier. On average, a full moon falls on Friday the 13th about once about every 14.3 years. It last happened in October 2000, but it won't take place again until August 2049.
At the moment, the moon is at one of its farthest points south. Because of its low location, the moon shines through the thick layers of atmosphere near the horizon, sometimes making it appeark to glow with the color of honey.
"This will be the most amber or honey colored full moon of 2014, especially when it rises at sunset Thursday evening," Slooh community telescope representatives wrote in an advisory earlier in the week.
Of course, Friday the 13th is considered by some to be an unlucky day. The fear of the date is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, and this month it also overlaps with superstitions surrounding the full moon.
Editor's note: If you snap an amazing photo of the moon, or any other night sky view, and you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, please send comments and images to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.
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