The Most Super Supermoons Are Still to Come – WSJ

If the moon is full when it passes closest to Earth in its elliptical journey around the planet as it was last week it s called a supermoon, because the shorter distance makes the shining orb appear larger and brighter than normal.

But to the irritation of the scientific community, the word was coined by an astrologer to describe a phenomenon most scientists contend the human eye can t detect.

Richard Nolle invented the neologism for an article published in Dell Horoscope magazine in 1979. It captured the imagination of the public and perhaps adding insult to injury eclipsed the technical term for the event.

In astronomical language, the phenomenon would be called perigee syzygy.

Even professional stargazers admit that s not as catchy.

via www.wsj.com

Heh.