Today's Image

Christmas lights and the king tide

Photo taken on the day after the supermoon – December 4, 2017 – by Mimi Ditchie.

Here’s another photo from Pismo Beach, California. Mimi Ditchie captured these Christmas lights on Pismo Pier on the day of the king tide – an especially high spring tide – that followed Sunday’s supermoon. That supermoon was the closest and brightest full moon of 2017; see photos here. Supermoons might not look bigger to the eye (although some say they do look bigger), but they definitely affect earthly tides, and the highest and lowest tides tend to come in the day or so following the full moon. Mimi wrote:

This photo was taken on Monday during the king tide at Pismo Beach, California. The tide was -1.5 near sunset (after being extremely high in the morning) I had to wait until around 5:30 p.m. until it was dark enough for the Christmas tree to be visible. It was then reflected on the wet sand of the low tide.

Thank you, Mimi!

When is the next supermoon?

Tides and the pull of the moon and sun

Pismo Beach daily tide chart

Posted 
December 7, 2017
 in 
Today's Image

Like what you read?
Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.

Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Privacy Policy
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More from 

Deborah Byrd

View All