The first full moon to occur on the winter solstice, Dec. 22, commonly called the first day of winter, happened in 1999. Since a full moon on the winter solstice occurred in conjunction with a lunar perigee (point in the moon’s orbit that is closest to Earth), the moon appeared about 14% larger than it does at apogee (the point in it’s elliptical orbit that is farthest from the Earth).
Related Posts
Interesting facts # 230
Heroin is derived from the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, which means the poppy that brings sleep. Sterling silver is not pure silver. Because pure silver…
Interesting Facts 96
                  Astronauts brought back about 800 pounds of lunar rock to Earth. Most of it has not been analyzed.       In 1959,…
Interesting Facts 183
The Sphinx ( famous pyramid) was carved from one piece of stone. The South Pole is covered with 8,850 feet of solid ice. The South…
Interesting Facts 419
From the Middle Ages until the 18th century the local barber’s duties included dentistry, blood letting, minor operations and bone-setting. The barber’s striped red pole…



