Fullest moon in 15 years expected on Dec. 12

The full moon is expected to rise from the east at 4:31 p.m. Dec. 12 and set in the west at 6:58 a.m. Dec. 13, the museum said.

The moon will move on its oval orbit around the earth to the spot closest to the earth — 356,566 kilometers in distance — at 6:00 a.m. Dec. 13.

For people who miss a chance to see the moon this year, they will have to wait until Nov. 14, 2016 to see a full moon bigger and brighter than this one, the museum said.

Meanwhile, local sky watchers may also expect the Geminid meteor shower next week, which is expected to reach its peak at 7:00 a.m. on Dec. 14. The maximum meteor volume will reach 120 meteors per hour, passing through the night sky at speeds of 35 kilometers per second, according to the city-run museum.

The meteor shower can be observed between Dec. 7-17, however, coinciding with the full moon, the vast majority of meteors will probably be washed out by the moon’s brightness. If the sky is clear, observers may have the chance to see the brighter meteors, the museum said.

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