Yucatan’s skies will be clear for a good view of 2020’s largest supermoon

Photo: Getty

After being hunkered down inside all day, there’s a big reason to venture outside and look up at the sky tonight.

The April “pink moon” is not only a supermoon, but it’s also the biggest and brightest of 2020. And tonight’s skies are forecast to be good and clear for viewing it.

The moon will be opposite the sun at 9:35 p.m. in Yucatan and will continue to be super until Thursday morning.

But it won’t really be pink. This full moon is called the “pink moon” because of a type of pink herb moss that is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.

It’s a supermoon because it’s within 90% of perigee, or its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit. For 2020, the four full moons from February to May meet this threshold, according to NASA. Although March and April’s full moons are nearly tied in size and brightness, the “pink moon” will be slightly — about 0.1% — closer to Earth.

Tonight’s moon is also the Pesach or Passover moon, signaling the middle of the Hebrew month of Nisan and the start of Passover.

Generally, the Easter holiday is also celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring, giving it yet another name — the Pascal Moon.

Another feature of tonight’s sky is Venus, which will be visible about 32 degrees above the horizon in the west-northwest as evening twilight ends.

Wait, there’s more. Later this month, on April 28, Venus will reach its peak brightness and may even be visible during the day.

Similar Posts