2021’s First Supermoon, the “Pink Moon”, Appeared in S’pore This Morning (27 Apr)

At exactly 11.31am today morning (27 Apr), a pink supermoon was spotted in the sky. 

If you’ve missed it however, not to worry. You’ll still be able to catch sight of it for the next few nights. 

Interestingly enough, the pink supermoon isn’t actually pink. It’s named after the Phlox subulata, alternatively known as the creeping phlox or moss phlox. 

“Moss pink” is another name for the flower that blooms around this time in eastern North America. 

When you think of a pink supermoon, you may conjure up images of a huge, bright and unapologetically pink moon hanging in the night sky like a rather obnoxious ornament. 

However, the pink supermoon that was spotted at around 8.30pm on Monday (26 Apr) was striking yet elegant in its brightness, and certainly not as pink as you’d expect. 

Apparently, the full moon is said to boost one’s energy, so if you find yourself tossing and turning in bed these few nights, perhaps that’s why. 

2021 Supermoons 

According to space.com, a supermoon is formed when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit. 

Did you know that supermoons are around 7% bigger and approximately 15% brighter than a regular full moon? 

It has been reported by some experts that four supermoons are expected to appear this year, in March, April, May and June. However, there are others who disagree, saying that there are only two guaranteed supermoons in April and May.

The conditions that make a supermoon a supermoon can vary, but usually there are around two to four moons a year that are declared supermoons. 

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the full moon on 26 May will be slightly closer to the Earth than the full moon on 16 April by around 157km. 

The term “supermoon” has actually only been in use in the past four decades. However, it garnered a lot of attention in 2016 when three supermoons were formed in a row. 

Worm Moon Appeared in Singapore on 28 Mar 

The “worm moon” is named after earthworms that emerge from the soil around March. 

It appeared in Singapore on 28 March this year and was the first supermoon of the year. 

You can read more about it here.

Featured Image: aopsan / Shutterstock.com (Image is for illustration purpose only)