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SYFY WIRE Bad Astronomy

Deflated Supermoon

By Phil Plait
BadAstronomyHero

Well, now I feel bad: when I deflated the Supermoon stuff over the weekend, I swear I didn't mean it literally!

This amazing shot was taken by astronaut André Kuipers from the International Space Station on May 5, 2012, as the perigee full Moon set behind the Earth's limb. The Earth's atmosphere bends light from the Moon, acting like a lens, pushing the bottom part of the Moon up into the top.

Science once again saves me from embarrassment. I was pretty sure the Moon wouldn't take it personally.

Image credit: ESA/NASA


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