Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


April Supermoon to be Biggest, Brightest in 2020

Zlatica Hoke

   People around the world,trappedin their homesamid a health crisis, have
   something to look forward to this weekwhenthe full moon appearsas a
   supermoonfor thesecond of threetimesthisyearandin its most spectacular
   form.

   A phenomenon known astheSuperPink Moon will make an appearance over a
   couple of nights this week. It will be the biggest and brightest on
   Tuesday, but itsappearanceon Monday and Wednesday will also be worth
   viewing.

   Houseboundpeoplearemorelikelythanusualtowant tostep out into
   theiryardsorpoke their heads out of theirwindows to watch this
   so-calledsupermoonand developanew appreciation forthe natural worldor
   renew an old one.

   A full moon appears approximately once a month. When themoon gets
   closestto theEarth in its orbit,it appears bigger and brighter
   thanusualand is calleda supermoon.

   A supermoon canlookup to14%bigger and 30%brighter than a
   regularmonthlyfull moon.

   Most years have 12 fullmoons,but this year willhave13,threeof
   themsupermoons.The April supermoonfollows theoneofMarch9and precedesthe
   onecomingon May 7.

   In the United States, theAprilsupermoonisalso known asthePink
   Supermoon, a name given it by Native Americansbecause it comes out
   aroundthetimethe moss pink wildfloweris inbloom.April's full
   moonpromises to be the most spectacularfull moon ofthis
   yearbecauseitwillbe closest to theEarthwhile in its "full" phase. The
   distance between thetwoon April 7 will be356,906 kilometers.

   The timing fortheApril supermoonvariesindifferent parts of the
   world.Onthe U.S. WestCoast,this
   year'sSuperPinkMoonappearsabout7:30p.m.onApril 7,and in Sydney,
   Australia,at 12:30p.m.on April 8.But the best time towatchit anywhereis
   after sunset, when the skydarkensand the moon rises over the
   easternhorizon.

   Experts say there is no need to look foritspeakat
   100%illuminationbecause the moon is then so white and bright that you
   cannot look at it for more than a few seconds.Those who do not have an
   east-facingviewcan wait for the moonseton April 8. It isexpectedto be
   as spectacular as the moonrise.

   The year 2020 will also have a rare blue moon. A blue moon is the
   second full moon inthe samemonth -- something that happens only
   every2½or three years. English-language speakers are familiar with the
   phrase "once in a blue moon," referring to something that happens
   rarely.This year'sblue moonwill fallon Halloween, October 31,something
   that happens once in two decades, sothatmakesit even morespecial.

   Moongazerswill have plenty to watch in 2020 andunder the current
   circumstances,watchingnight skyevents could gain more attention among
   people who havehad littleinterest inthem before.

.