Thursday's 'Mini Moon' Will Be This Year's Smallest
(CBS SF) -- The universe is filled with wonders of gigantic proportions, but Thursday night's celestial attraction comes in a size that's too adorable to pass up.
It's the mini moon, and like its bigger, brighter supermoon companion, it's a good reason to observe the night sky.
The moon will be within 24 hours of the farthest distance from earth, appearing 7 percent smaller and 15 percent fainter than an average full moon.
The Griffith Observatory says the difference in size between a mini moon and a supermoon is about the difference between a nickel and quarter when both are viewed at a distance of 7.5 feet.
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But an unaided eye likely won't be able to see the difference between a mini moon and a more common moon. You can, however, expect a slightly less tidal effect.
