Well, all I can say is that if Luna did leave orbit for several days, we’d know immediately. For one thing, the tides would be almost non-existant (it’s the effect of Luna’s gravity on the oceans that cause the tides). Of course, you wouldn’t be able to see it either. During the New Moon phase, there is only about 3 days where you can’t see Luna, because it’s lost in the glare of Sol. I personally haven’t noticed anything different about Luna, but there again it’s been mostly overcast here, so I haven’t been able to see it much.
This article deals with the natural fluctuations in Luna’s orbit. The orbit isn’t a perfect circle; it’s more elliptical in shape. There are times when Luna is slightly closer to Earth, and times when it’s slightly farther. The orbit also isn’t confined to Earth’s equator. It varies up & down a few degrees, which is why some Full Moon phases appear higher in the sky than others. This article is just pointing out that the Full Moon phase is coinciding with the perigee, or closest approach, of Luna’s orbit. It will appear slightly bigger & brighter than it has at any other Full Moon of 2008.
