A pink supermoon is on the way this week! Reduction in air pollution due to coronavirus lockdown means Britons will get clear view of the stunning and rare astronomical treat
- The moon will appear 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent bigger on Tuesday
- Reduction in air pollution amid coronavirus crisis will mean a clearer night sky
- The rare special phenomenon will be visible across the UK for the entire night
There aren’t many positives to the pandemic lockdown – but one upside is a reduction in air pollution, which will mean a clearer night sky for a stunning astronomical treat this week.
On Tuesday, Britain will witness a rare phenomenon known as a pink supermoon.
It happens when the first full moon of spring, traditionally called the pink moon, coincides with the moment the moon is at its closest point to Earth.
As a result of being relatively near, the moon will appear 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent bigger in the sky than when it’s at its furthest point.
The moon’s elliptical orbit means that, at its closest point – called the perigree – it is just over 220,000 miles from the Earth, almost 30,000 miles closer than when it’s at its furthest point
Emily Drabek-Maunder, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, said: ‘It’s going to be spectacular. The supermoon is a great opportunity for everyone to appreciate the beauty of the natural world. While the night sky seems constant to us, we can directly witness the changing universe by taking notice of the moon.’
The moon’s elliptical orbit means that, at its closest point – called the perigree – it is just over 220,000 miles from the Earth, almost 30,000 miles closer than when it’s at its furthest point. When this perigee coincides with a new moon, the phenomenon is called a supermoon.
The moon won’t actually appear pink – the name comes from the pink wildflowers which blossom at this time of year in North America – but orange when it is low in the sky.
The moon won’t actually appear pink – the name comes from the pink wildflowers which blossom at this time of year in North America – but orange when it is low in the sky. The pink moon is pictured above Brighton Pier last year
This is because at that point it is viewed through a greater thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters blue and green wavelengths of light, leaving those at the red, orange and yellow end of the spectrum.
Ms Drabek-Maunder explained: ‘The moon is visible because sunlight reflects off the surface of the moon back to the Earth. When we look up at the moon, the colour of the moon varies from a light golden to a silvery tone.
‘This change in colour depends on how close the moon is to the horizon and the change in the angle of the light that reflects off the moon’s surface as it passes through the atmosphere of the Earth.’
Tuesday’s spectacle will be the second of three supermoons this year following last month’s ‘worm’ supermoon and before next month’s ‘flower’ supermoon. Astronomers say the pink one will be the best of the trio.
British stargazers will be in for a long night if they want to catch the best view, as the supermoon will be at its fullest and most magnificent at 3.35am on Wednesday.
But the phenomenon will be visible across the UK for the entire night, rising in the east on Tuesday at 6.55pm and setting in the west at 6.56am the following morning.
Nasa research scientist Noah Petroh said: ‘Supermoons are a great opportunity for people to start looking at the moon, not just that once but every chance they have.’
This is because at that point it is viewed through a greater thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters blue and green wavelengths of light, leaving those at the red, orange and yellow end of the spectrum