Supermoon at Stone Mountain (Group 2)

(Ok we added another group for this one, because we can't leave anyone on the waitlist for this rare phenomenon that we are going to view from already bustling Stone Mtn. It should be interesting to see how many other people are up there with the same idea, but the more the merrier in this case.)

Apparently the moon on Saturday will be the closest full moon to the Earth in the last 19 years.. a so called "supermoon". And it doesn't look like another one this close for at least another 5 years. Forecast is looking great, so we've got to get up somewhere high and watch it rise and then sit there and marvel at its supersize.

(Actually, it won't be that noticeable vs past supermoons but the moon is about 14% larger at perigee than at apogee. And this one will be the best in a long time, so definitely worth hiking up a mountain for a better look at it.)

From Super Full Moon:

"Mark your calendar. On March 19th, a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It's a super "perigee moon"--the biggest in almost 20 years.

"The last full Moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1983," says Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory in Washington DC. "I'd say it's worth a look."

Full Moons vary in size because of the oval shape of the Moon's orbit. It is an ellipse with one side (perigee) about 50,000 km closer to Earth than the other (apogee): diagram. Nearby perigee moons are about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than lesser moons that occur on the apogee side of the Moon's orbit.

"The full Moon of March 19th occurs less than one hour away from perigee--a near-perfect coincidence that happens only 18 years or so," adds Chester."

So the plan is to head to the top of Stone Mtn and watch the sunset at 7:48 PM. Hopefully it won't be a spectacular sunset because we don't want any clouds in the sky to potentially block the moon. Then only 18 minutes later, we will try to watch the moonrise from the other side of the mtn. Remember that it won't be anywhere near totally dark at that point and we probably won't be able to see the moon until it is actually a good bit above the horizon.  But it's fun to look for it and see who can spot it first.

The St Mtn walkup trail gains about 650 feet in 1 mile. That is a good climb and this would be a D3 hike if we were going at even a moderate pace.  But because this one is go-at-your-own-pace, it is instead a D2. Because the trail is so easy to follow and so populated, everyone can take their time on the way up and then we can just meet at the top and hang out for the sunset and moonrise.

The forecast high for Saturday is 80 so it should be very nice on the top of the mtn...hopefully a cool breeze too. I plan to bring a blanket and just relax for awhile and enjoy watching the moon and enjoying the peaceful calm and the city lights surrounding us.  If you would like to head down earlier at any point, just let me know and that's fine.

So IF the weather cooperates at it is supposed to, this should be a great way to mark a historic celestial occasion. 

If you would like to try the free public parking, there is a Marta Park and Ride on Fourth Street in Stone Mountain Village. From there it is a less than a half mile walk on East Mountain Street into the Park and you will end up right at the start of the walk-up trail where we are meeting.


View Larger Map

Additional directions and maps can be found at:
http://stonemountainpark.com/default.aspx

To the main entrance- From I-285 take U.S. Hwy 78 East (Snellville/Athens) exit. Travel about 7 miles and take Exit 8.  After entering the Park, proceed straight ahead. The road will fork in about 1 mile - stay to the right. Continue to follow the road for another mile. Confederate Hall will be on your left. The parking lot will be immediately after. We will meet behind Confederate Hall, right outside of the railroad track and near the restrooms...at the start of the walk up trail.