By stufflovely
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You’ll want to set aside some time for moon gazing this Monday night, 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 steady gold, then pure white as it rises higher and higher in the sky. This is due to Rayleigh scattering, the same phenomenon that causes sunsets to take on reddish tints.
Contrary to its name, this month’s full moon will not actually look pink. According to Farmer’s Almanac, actually gets its name from the North American wildflower Phlox Subulata, also known as creeping phlox or moss phlox, which blooms in 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 normal full moon. And this month is special, being one of the only two supermoons of its kind for 2021 (the next one is in May).
But is the Moon really closer to us when it is on the horizon? Is that why it looks so big? According to NASA, the answer is no. It is just an illusion.
MORE: Mind-blowing images of the moon with inverted colors show where the magma flowed
If you want to try taking one of those spectacular photos where the Moon looks huge when it rises over mountains, a calm ocean or a prairie field, here is a Board certified by NASA: “Photographers can simulate the illusion of the Moon by taking pictures of the Moon low on the horizon using a long lens, with buildings, mountains, or trees in the frame.”
Illusion or not, look at the pink moon rising this Monday and you are sure to see a beautiful, albeit fleeting sight.
LIGHT UP your friends’ news with lunar good news …
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