Shea Simmons
Spring is officially here, and you’re likely already venturing outside for some sun. But if you want to end your day with a bit of stargazing, you can catch this year’s first supermoon at the end of the month.
We have a full moon every month (last month’s was the Worm Moon), but April’s is a bit different. Instead of the usual full moon, we’ll get a pink supermoon. A supermoon is basically a larger, brighter version of the typical monthly spectacle. It will peak April 25 at 11:33 p.m. EDT, but you’ll be able to catch it all night if you have a clear sky.
Supermoons are usually 7% larger and 15% brighter than a regular moon. While this is only nominally detectable with the naked eye, it’s still a cool event to catch, especially if you have kids who are interested in astronomy.
As for the “pink” moniker, the supermoon won’t actually be a shade of rose. Like other special moons, this label comes from Native American traditions. April is when the pink moss wildflower starts to bloom, and therefore, that month’s moon was named for them. However, this particular moon is also referred to as the Breaking Ice or Budding Moon.
If you have budding astronomers in your home, be sure to mark your calendar for April 25. In the meantime, check out the Mission to Mars App for some more spacey fun!
