World / 'Pink Supermoon' seen in the night sky across the world; pictures surface

New York: Did you see the “Super Pink Moon?” 

The second of four “supermoons” or “perigee full Moons” of 2021, April’s full Moon appears about 6% larger than an average full Moon and, more practically, caused “king tides” around the world.

As usual, photographers were out in force to capture the beauty of a full moonrise. 

The second full Moon of Spring in the northern hemisphere, April’s full Moon is also known as the “Fish Moon,” the “Hare Moon,” and the “Egg Moon,” with those names thought to be associated with Native American tribes.

In the UK April’s full Moon is traditionally know as the “Milk Moon.” 

A full Moon is when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. During this time of the Moon’s orbit of Earth, the Moon appears completely illuminated as seen from Earth.

A full moon happens once every orbit of Earth—a “moon-th” (month), but “supermoons” are much rarer. 

The “Super Pink Moon” was the second of four “supermoon’s” in 2021. A supermoon is known as a perigee full Moon by astronomers.

The Moon has a near-point (perigee) and a far-point (apogee) in its monthly orbit of Earth because that orbital path is slightly elliptical in shape. 

At perigee it appears a little larger than the average apparent size (a “supermoon”), and at apogee, a little smaller (a “micromoon”).

The “Super Pink Moon” sets up two rather special Moons to come. The first will be invisible. On Tuesday, May 11 there will be a “micromoon,” which is the opposite to a “supermoon.”

Though not a scientific term (nor is “supermoon,” which was coined by an astrologer) it refers to that New Moon being the farthest from Earth in all of 2021.

However, it’s what happens two weeks later that will really excite moongazers … a “Blood Moon!” 

On Wednesday, May 26, 2021 there will be another full Moon—the year’s biggest and brightest “supermoon,” in fact—though that’s not why it will be so special.

For May’s full Moon will also be a “Blood Moon”—the colloquial term for a total lunar eclipse. 

A total lunar eclipse is caused by Earth getting precisely between the Sun and the Moon in space.

During the event the full Moon drifts through Earth’s central shadow in space and turns a reddish-copper color.

This “totality” period can last for a few hours, though on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 it will only last for 15 minutes—and only be visible from the western half of North America, as well as Asia.

It will be known as the “Super Flower Blood Moon.”