The Biggest and Brightest Moon of the Year 2021
The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from a number of places, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not only to the full Moon.
2021 April’s full Moon was rising on the night of Monday, April 26 to Tuesday, April 27. Traditionally called the Pink Moon, this full Moon was also the spectacular Supermoon!
Here’s everything you should know about the Moon this month:
If you venture outside on the night of Monday, April 26 and were lucky with the weather you could catch a glimpse of April’s full Pink Moon. This full Moon—which is the first of two Supermoons this year—was visible mainly after sunset and reached peak illumination at 11:33 P.M. EDT.
This year, we’ll be treated to two Supermoons, with the first occurring on April 26 and the second on May 26. Supermoons are said to be bigger and brighter than your average full Moon.
Just how big and how bright, exactly? On average, Supermoons are about 7% bigger and about 15% brighter than a typical full Moon. However, unless you were to see a regular full Moon and a Supermoon side by side in the sky, the difference is very, very difficult to notice.
For the best view of this lovely spring Supermoons, find an open area and watch as the Moon rises just above the horizon, at which point it will appear in its biggest and most colorful phase and than eventually takes on a orange-golden hue!
The Pink Moon
Although we wish this name had to do with the color of the Moon, the reality is not quite as mystical or awe-inspiring. In truth, April’s full Moon often corresponded with the early springtime blooms of a certain wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox Subulata - commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox—which also went by the name “moss pink.”
Thanks to this seasonal association, this full Moon became to be known as the “Pink” Moon!
Enjoy
Jiri
