SenZible: Never worry on a Super Moon Night- March 19 2011

What is Super moon?
In astrology, a supermoon is a full or new moon that coincides with a close approach by the Moon to the Earth. The Moon's distance varies each month between approximately 354,000 km (220,000 mi) and 410,000 km (254,000 mi).

The term supermoon was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979, defined as

“

...a new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit (perigee). In short, Earth, Moon and Sun are all in a line, with Moon in its nearest approach to Earth.

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The term supermoon is not widely accepted or used within the astronomy or scientific community, who prefer the term perigee-syzygy.

The combined effect of the Sun and Moon on Earth's oceans, the tide, is greatest when the Moon is new or full. Full Moons during lunar perigees (such as in the case of supermoons) exert an even stronger tidal force, resulting in more extreme high and low tides, but even at their most powerful this force is still considerably weak.

Speculations of a link between the occurrence of supermoons and natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunami are extremely tenuous. Arguments have been made that natural disasters coinciding with years in which supermoons occurred were influenced by the Moon's increased gravitational strength, though because of the monthly alternation between lunar apogee and perigee such an argument cannot be supported unless the disaster in question falls on the actual date of the supermoon.

It has been argued that the Indian Ocean tsunami and earthquake on December 26, 2004, was influenced by a supermoon which occurred 2 weeks later on January 10, 2005.However two weeks before a supermoon the Moon is at the opposite point in its orbit: its apogee (greatest distance). Thus a supermoon effect is impossible.

Most recently, astrologers argued that the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011, was influenced by the March 19 supermoon, the closest supermoon since 1992. The problem with this claim is that on March 11 the Moon was actually closer to apogee than perigee, at approximately 400,000 km (240,000 mi) from the Earth, which is further than the average distance between the Moon and the Earth throughout the Moon's orbital cycle.

While some studies have reported a weak correlation between shallow, very low intensity earthquakes and lunar activity, there is no empirical evidence of any correlation with major earthquakes.

Is Tsunami and earthquake in Japan occurs due to Extreme Super Moon day ?

After Earthquake followed by Tsunami in Japan causes many of the people all around the world to think a common question - Is Tsunami and earthquake in Japan occurs due to Extreme Super Moon day ? Now scientist have given an good answer for this - absolutely No. The reason behind this was, on this day the moon was actually away from its average distance (400,000 km) suggesting that there is no possibility of effect of Super Moon on Tsunami which is happened on Japan.

Is super moon day has done harm in past ?

Now lets check the history of Super Moon day which may be eager to know by

many readers. Previous supermoons took place in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005. Some scientists claims that these Super Moon has cause extreme disaster to earth.
Tsunami which causes the death of thousands of people in Indonesia on December 25 occurs just weeks before January 2005 Super Moon day. Hurricane Katrina also came during this period. Cyclone Tracy which causes harm to Australia came during 1974 Super Moon day. Those who supports "Disaster on Super Moon day" also claims that New England hurricane of 1938 and the Australian Hunter Valley floods of 1955 happened during Super Moons. But majority of the scientists claims that these incidence are just coincidence and there is no connection with Super Moon day. They also says that moon during 2004 Tsunami was farthest from Earth.