Dig out those binoculars, telescope if you have one, or just stand in your garden and look up, because a ‘Super Pink Moon’ is on its way!
Unfortunately “the moon is not going to be pink” though, said Dr Emily Drabek-Maunder of Greenwich University on Radio 4’s Today Programme – adding “It is called the pink moon after pink faux flowers which are really common in North America.”
What’s a ‘supermoon’?
The moon follows an elliptical (an egg shape) orbit around Earth – as it’s at it’s closest (perigee), the moon appears 14% bigger and 30% brighter.
When can I see it?
The Moon will rise on this evening of (7 April) from 7pm and will be seen high in the sky from 9pm onwards.
It’s biggest and brightest will be visible at 3:35am in the early hours of 8 April 2020.
Stargazing tips:
- Astronomy in isolation: stargazing activities for those stuck at home – from BBC Sky at Night Magazine
