The moon will be closest toEarth at a distance of 356,907 kilometres on Tuesday, April 7, at 11:38 pm(IST) or (18:08 GMT). Around 8 hours and 35 minutes later, it will turn into abig perigee-syzygy moon, which is the astronomical term for a supermoon.
This would be the biggest andthe brightest moon of 2020. This happens due to an optical illusion.
What is a supermoon
The National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) says a supermoon occurs when the "moon's orbit is closest to Earth at the same time it is full". The upcoming supermoon will be the "most super" of all the full supermoons in 2020.
Why it is called a pinksupermoon
Every full moon has a differentname, owing to different events corresponding with the month, such asDecember's cold moon and January's wolf moon. As per the Old Farmer's almanac,April's full moon often corresponds with the springtime bloom of a pinkwildflower called Phlox subulata.
Super pink moon 2020: Date andtime
The pink supermoon is expectedto be seen from the moon rise on the evening of April 7, 2020. It will peak ataround 10.35 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), hence the moon would be viewed thebest by the people in India at around 8.05 am on April 8.
Super pink moon 2020: How towatch
Although catching it live withthe naked eye in India might pose difficulty due to the sunlight, people do notneed to step out of their houses to look at the moon. The pink supermoon willbe bright enough to be visible from the terrace or balcony of houses.
People can also opt to watchthe pink supermoon on live telecast conducted by various international bodiesor on social media.
