Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 09:57
In the month of April several astronomical events will take place. One of the most significant is the well-known Lyrid meteor shower and the conjunction of the moon with several planets known as a pink supermoon. NASA calls the phenomenon that occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth and it is in its full phase a supermoon.
The definition of supermoon is not a scientific term, it has been popularized to refer to this astronomical phenomenon that happens every time the moon’s orbit is closer to Earth (perigee), while it is full. The perigee is the point of the elliptical orbit that a natural or artificial body runs around the Earth. When this happens, the appearance of the satellite is brighter and larger because it is in the full moon phase at the moment it passes through the point of its orbit closest to Earth or perigee, hence it is called a ‘supermoon’. ‘.
The moon revolves around the Earth and describes an elliptical orbit that takes about 28 days to complete. The distance between the satellite and the planet is not always the same, nor is the size or brightness that can be perceived.
The origin of the super pink moon
According to National Geographic, this April supermoon is also known as the full pink moon. The native Americans were the first to name this phenomenon like this, since it occurs in spring, a season in which most flowers bloom showing beautiful pinkish tones. The first spring flowers, known as ‘pink moss’ (Phlox subulata), cover the ground as a pink blanket in parts of North America during the month of April. Other American tribes also call this phenomenon with names as unique as the full fish moon, a time when tarpon, a common river fish in the United States, swims upstream to spawn.
When can the pink moon be seen?
On April 6, 2023, the full spring moon can be observed, since it is the first full moon after the arrival of this season. Exactly this pink supermoon can be observed at 04:35 GMT, with a distance of 391,133 kilometers from Earth (center to center).
According to the latest data offered by NASA, the pink supermoon can be seen in its maximum splendor on April 6, around midnight, throughout the Iberian Peninsula. At this time it will be the day that the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth. This is the reason why the moon is going to look bigger.
To be able to observe this phenomenon well, it is best to get away from the bustle of the city. You do not need to use a telescope to observe the moon, as it can be more of a nuisance to the eyes. The most advisable thing is to go to a high area and appreciate the beauty of this supermoon.
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