NASA has some exciting news for skywatchers about the last supermoon of the year. It says on its website that on 7th May 2020 exactly at 6:45 a.m. the last and the largest moon of the year would appear opposite of the sun.
From Tuesday to Friday, you can witness the largest moon of the year known as the Flower Moon. This would be a similar moon as the ones we have seen in February, March, and April of 2020.
The full moon cannot be seen by humans as on the given date and time, it would be below the horizon. But NASA has informed people that the best time to see the amazing moon is the night before 6th May 2020 or it can also be seen on the night of Thursday.
You must be wondering what’s so super about the moon. Well, a supermoon is a moon that is nearest to Earth in its elliptical orbit, which makes it look big. In comparison to the size of an average moon, supermoons are 14% larger. Not only that, it is 30% brighter.
It is being referred to as Flower Moon because the moon is appearing when the flowers would be blooming in spring. If it would have appeared a month later, the moon would have been called the Full Strawberry Moon.
It is also called Corn Planting Moon or Milk Moon according to Farmer’s Almanac. Milk Moon is said to be named after the time when cows, goats, and sheep enjoy the arrival of grass, wheat, etc.
The first step to catch the Flower Moon is finding out the exact time of the moonset or moonrise of wherever you are on the 7th May 2020. The second step would be to look west for a setting moon around sunrise and look east at the time of sunset.
Unlike the solar eclipse, you don’t need to be at a specific place to witness it. Just get out of your house at the right time, hope the sky’s clear, and enjoy the beauty. It would be best to grab some binoculars or a telescope if you can.
The next supermoon will appear sometime in April 2021, which will be referred to as the Super Pink Moon.
