You’ll want to set aside a little time this Monday night to look at the moon, as April 26 will be the night of the Super Pink Moon.
The best time to see it is when it appears on the eastern horizon. At that point, the moon will appear as a deep tangerine, then a steady gold, then pure white as it climbs higher and higher in the sky. This is due to Rayleigh scattering – the same phenomenon that causes sunsets to take on reddish hues.
Contrary to the name, this month’s full moon doesn’t really look pink. According to Farmer’s Almanac, it gets its name from the North American wild Phlox Subulata, also known as creeping phlox or moss phlox, which blooms in the spring.
Other traditional names include Sucker Moon, Breaking Ice Moon, Egg Moon, Wildcat Moon, and Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs.
Supermoons are typically about seven percent larger and about 15 percent brighter than a regular full moon. And this month is special, as it is one of only two such supermoons for 2021 (the next one is in May).
But is the moon actually closer to us when it is on the horizon? Is that why it looks so big? According to NASA, the answer is no. It’s just an illusion.
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If you still want to get one of those spectacular photos where the moon looks gigantic as it rises above the mountains, a calm ocean or a prairie field, here’s a NASA-certified tip: “Photographers can simulate the moon illusion by taking pictures of the moon. moon low on the horizon with a long lens, with buildings, mountains or trees in view. “
Illusion or not, watch out for the rising Pink Moon this Monday and you are sure to see a beautiful, if fleeting, sight.
BRING up your friends’ news feeds with the good moon news …