SuperMoon Or Super Hype?

Next week -- on March 19 -- the moon won't just be at its closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, enthusiasts say it will be closer to Earth than it's been in 18 years.

The moon's orbit around us is slightly elliptical, and when the moon is at the near point it is known as a lunar perigee. But on the Internet, astronomy and astrology fans are calling this upcoming lunar event a "supermoon."

For the past few days, they've not only been buzzing about the mega moon, but the meteorological mayhem they expect it to cause.

Floods! Earthquakes! Volcanic eruptions! To hear it on the Internet, this so-called super moon could cause a climatological reign of terror on the entire planet.

But no need to grab your survival kit just yet -- scientists say it just isn't so.

Where Did 'Supermoon' Come From?
AccuWeather blogger Mark Paquette said he thinks the phrase "supermoon" originated on the website of astrologer Richard Nolle and spread to astronomers online.

In a blog post earlier this month, Paquette said a new or full moon at 90 percent or more of its closest perigee qualifies as a "supermoon." Next weekend's full moon won't just be a supermoon but an extreme supermoon, he said, because the moon will be almost precisely at its closest distance to Earth.

According to "new age" forecasts, he said, the supermoon is expected to bring strong earthquakes, storms or unusual climate patterns.