LIers hope to get view of super moon

If the clouds clear, sky gazers on Long Island are in for a stunning view Saturday night of a super moon.

That's when a full moon appears supersized as a result of being at perigee -- coming closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit.

Super moons occur about once a year and can appear as much as 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than typical full moons, according to NASA.

Saturday night's moon will be "nice and big and bright -- if you can see it," says Jeffrey Katz, research director of the Custer Institute and Observatory in Southold.

The evening forecast was for clouds and an east wind that could bring moisture in off the ocean to create a layer of fog and stratus, says Tim Morrin, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton.

But don't lose hope, he says. "That doesn't mean there'll be a solid deck of clouds the entire night."

If the weather breaks right, Katz says sky watchers will get a great view around moonrise -- 7:43 p.m. on Long Island, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.

Those looking for an up-close sighting as the moon ascends, he says, can see it through the observatory's binoculars, telescopes set up on the lawn, as well as the dome telescope, which accommodates 15 viewers at a time.

The observatory is open to the public Saturday nights from 7 to midnight.

Those planning a moon sighting from the beach may want to think twice. Says Morrin: "The closer you are to the ocean, the more chance of cloud cover."