04/26/2021 10:35
Clarín.com
International
Updated 04/26/2021 10:53
One of the highest-impact phenomena of the year, the pink Supermoon will take over the sky between the night
of April 26 and the early morning of April 27.
Due to its characteristics and its size,
much
larger than usual,
this wonderful pink Supermoon can be seen, with the
naked eye
, from anywhere in the world as long as it is clear.
As mystical as it is dazzling, this event will offer a unique opportunity to lovers of
astronomy
and
photography
, who will be able to upload their images without limit to social networks.
What is a Supermoon?
This April Supermoon will be very special since it will be the
first of the year
and one of the three that we will have in 2021. The next ones will be the "Flower Supermoon", on May 26, and the "Strawberry Supermoon" on May 24. June.
The natural satellite of the Earth receives the name of Supermoon when it is in its
Full Moon
phase
at
perigee
, that is, at its closest point to our planet.
This time, the Moon will be 357,615 kilometers away, making it appear much larger and brighter.
According to the National Geographic Institute of Spain (IGN) this Supermoon will be the brightest and largest in 2021, since its size will be 12% larger than normal.
The Supermoon is a full Moon that forms at perigee.
Photo: Brown University
If we describe
the
orbit
of the Moon, the point furthest from its ellipse is called the
apogee
or and is located about 400,000 kilometers from the Earth.
On the contrary, the closest one - the
perigee
- is located at an average distance of 365,000 kilometers from Earth.
When and how to see it
The moment of
greatest splendor
to observe it will be during the
early morning of April 27
.
It is that the pink Supermoon
will form
at 0:31 in Argentina;
at 10:31 p.m. from Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador;
at 11:31 p.m. from Venezuela, Miami and Chile;
and at 5:31 in Spain.
The Supermoon will take over the sky on April 27.
Photo: AP
From that moment, just by looking at the sky,
without binoculars or special telescopes
, fans of our natural satellite will have the opportunity to get the best images.
Why is this Supermoon pink?
Since ancient times, the
Moon
has been in the focus of attention of different cultures.
It happens that by its nature and the effects it causes, it has always aroused
enormous interest and undoubted magic
around it.
And even more so when it is full.
So much so, that month after month they have given it a name according to the characteristics of the
climate
and its impact on nature.
Thus, this April Supermoon is not really
pink
from the astronomical point of view.
Wild earth phlox, or pink moss, the flower that gives this Supermoon its name.
It is called this way because in the Northern Hemisphere it refers to the recently begun spring, the moment in which the first shoots of the
pink moss
or
wild earth phlox
(herb moss pink) appear
, which have small flowers of that tone.
There are no scientific explanations for the different names the Moon receives.
They were simply called this way by the
Algonquins
, a group of native peoples from the
United States
,
Canada,
and
northern Mexico.
They, based on their traditions and customs, named the Full Moons according to the
agricultural, cultural or climatic events of the moment
.
Look also
Pink supermoon in Scorpio of April 2021: its influence on each zodiac sign
Pink supermoon: what is it and why is it so important in some cultures