Sun and Moon

First, the sun. Here's a fantastic picture of the sun taken by the photographer Alan Friedman with some background and links to his site.

Second, the moon. It's been known for a very long time that the distance of the moon from the Earth varies over the month. The apparent size of the moon varies ever so slightly as a consequence. It so happens that the moon will be at its closest point to the us for nineteen years. A cause for concern? If you glance at The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Metro or The Telegraph, you would think so. Chaos will ensue! If you have any time for the scientific facts, then no. You can relax. Sometimes I am tempted to put up every bad bit of science-related reporting in the British press up here but you really would end seeing nothing else but posts like this.