Super Moon To Rise Over Tri-State Area Saturday Night; Meteor Shower Sunday

by Evan Bindelglass

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Okay, all you astronomers, Saturday night is for you, as the moon will be super.

No, really, it will be a Super Moon. The technical term is "perigee moon," but here's what it means.

Saturday night, the moon will be both full and at its closest point to Earth for the year. According to NASA, it will be up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than any other full moon in 2012.

The weather forecast for the Tri-State Area is decent. So, you should be able to see the moon.

While the moon will reach its perigee at 11:34 p.m., the best time to look will be when the moon is near the horizon. It just looks bigger against the horizon and when seen through trees or behind buildings.

There is plenty of folklore about all sorts of strange stuff happening under the light of a full moon. After all the word "lunacy" comes from the Latin word for moon.

However, fear not.

"The majority of modern studies, however, show no correlation between the phase of the Moon and the incidence of crime, sickness, or human behavior," NASA's Dr. Tony Phillips said.

Super Moons do bring extra high tides, called "perigean tides," but those are also nothing to worry about.

Now, the moon will not be the only sight to see in the sky this weekend.

The Earth will be passing through dust from the debris trail of Hailey's Comet, which will create the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower.

The meteor shower will peak in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, May 6. You might catch some shooting stars, but the southern hemisphere will get a far better view.

What's your favorite astronomical phenomenon? Sound off in the comments section below.