March 16, 2011 - 15:09 AMT
Armenian expert says Lunar Perigee non-threatening

The Lunar Perigee expected on March 19 is a natural phenomenon, posing no threat, according to the director of Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory at Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences.

As Hayk Harutyunyan stated, on the average, the phenomenon occurs once in every 18 years. “Previously, it was reported in 1974 and 1992. In 1912, the distance between the moon and the earth came to comprise 356,375 km, as compared to 356,577km expected on March 19,” the expert noted.

Lunar Perigee will occur on March 19, 2011 and refers to the fact that this is the closest the moon has ever gotten to the earth in the last 18 years. The actual distance between the moon and the earth on that day will be 356,577 km. Some astronomers are sure that this phenomenon will cause natural disasters as well as climate change.