by Bill Arnett
Tonight the Moon was exactly full just after midnight PDT. Since there was no eclipse that means that the Moon must have passed a little north or south of the ecliptic. The Moon was a little south this time. And that means that the terminator was in an unusual position: on the Moon's north limb. And so it was: it was quite clear in fact. I've seen the terminator well past the poles in the past but this was the first time I've seen it *centered* on one of the poles. Of course, this happens every month for some (earthly) longitudes. This time was better than usual in another way, too, in that the Moon was about as far from the ecliptic as it ever gets (about 5 degrees) making the "northern terminator" about as far from the limb as it ever gets.
It's another of those funny little things to see if you know to look for it :-)