Super Moon is an astrological term used to describe full moon which comes in its closest position to earth. This closest position is called perigee of its orbit.

Today, the moon will be closer to the Earth than it’s been in 18 years, a phenomenon astronomers refer to as a “Super Moon.” The giant moon will be visible “pretty much any time during the night,” said Geza Gyuk, astronomer at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

According to astronomers, this coming March 19 2011, the moon will be at its closest point to our planet earth for 19 years – a mere 356 577 kilometres away, a phenomenon referred to as a "Super Moon".

The Super Moon occurred in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005.They were accompanied by extreme weather conditions. The Katrina and hurricane which occurred in 2005 was also a result of super moon.

Disaster Predictions and Effects of Super Moon 2011
It is expected to have severe weather patterns, increased seismic activity, tsunamis and more volcanic eruptions than normal. This phenomenon includes the days leading up to March 19 and the days after until around March 22nd. Astrologers believe that super moon could wreak havoc on earth, create natural disasters like earthquake tsunami etc. But scientists say such things won't happen. It may cause some high tides but never lead to such disasters. Although panic has been spread among the people as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

“At the time of the earthquake in Japan, the moon was actually closer to its furthest point in orbit from Earth than it was to its March 19 closest point, so the gravitational effect of the moon was, in fact, less than average at that time,” NASA astronomer Dave Williams wrote in an e-mail to ABCNews.com. “It was basically a normal day on Earth as far as the lunar gravity and tidal forces were concerned. Unless the Earth somehow ‘knew’ the supermoon was coming, I can’t imagine any scientific connection between the two events.”

The largest effect of this phenomenon will be on the tide which occurs at the full moon every month. As the closer to the earth the moon orbits, so the effect on tides increases. A 5% increase in proximity makes about 20% difference in the power the moon exerts. So people living in coastal regions should anticipate stronger tides and should remain alert.

Let us all hope this lunar event pass without causing any such disaster. Anyway this is a big celestial event and you can view it if weather is fine .Moon will appear its largest and brightest on this day. So just keep peeping to the sky to have a look at this rare lunar event.