Super ‘pink moon’ will shine in the night sky this month

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Look! Up in the air! The moon!

NASA

Super pink moon. Pink supermoon. Whatever you want to call it, we will have a visual treat when the full moon rises in the night sky on Monday 26 April.

There are two notable components to this moon. It is known as the pink moon, but it does not refer to its true color. NASA notes that it is a name derived from the herb moss pink, also known as creeping flax, moss flax or mountain phlox, which is native to the eastern United States and one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.

Many of the exciting nicknames for full moons can be traced back to the Boer almanac, which says that the April moon is also known as the full-blown grass moon and the egg moon.

The pink moon is a supermoon, which means it may look slightly larger and brighter than usual. This happens when the full moon is also near its nearest point to the earth. The moon does not orbit our planet in a perfect circle, so it is sometimes closer to us than other times.

The easiest way to catch the moon is to simply step outside after dark and look for the large round lantern in the sky. If you have binoculars on hand, take a look at the beautiful, packed surface.

According to NASA, the moon will be opposite the sun on April 26 at 26:31 PT. If you miss the exact time, or if the clouds obstruct your viewing experience, do not be afraid. The moon will appear full from Sunday evening to Wednesday morning, giving you plenty of chances to enjoy the show.

Follow CNET’s 2021 space calendar to stay up to date with all the latest space news this year. You can even add it to your own Google Calendar.

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