Pink Moon - 7th April 2020

April’s Super ‘Pink’ Moon Will Be the Brightest Full Moon of 2020;  this will rise into the night sky on April 7th.

Despite the name, the moon will not have a rosy hue, instead the name alludes to pink wildflowers called creeping phlox that bloom in April.  The colour will not be any different to normal -it will be golden orange when low in the sky, and brighten to white as it rises.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon happens on the same night the moon reaches perigee, or the closest point to Earth in its orbit. (Apogee is its furthest point from Earth in its orbit.) On April 7th, the moon will be about 30,000 miles closer, only 221,772 miles from Earth.
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The scientific term for the astronomical event is “perigee-syzygy.”  Other full moons in April have been called Sprouting Grass, Egg, and Fish moon, which all evoke thoughts of early spring. This year’s super pink moon is also a paschal moon because of its closeness to Easter, which is 12th April 12th.