A full moon always gets people talking, but a supermoon, well… that’s another level of celestial spectacle entirely. Supermoons are a rare phenomenon eagerly anticipated by avid astronomers and ardent photographers in equal measure, and the first one of the year will shine in Texas skies tomorrow night!
The “Full Pink Moon”
The highlight of April’s astronomical events is the first full moon of the season. This year, dubbed the “Pink Moon” will arrive tomorrow night, April 16.
Don’t expect the moon to drastically change color, however, the pink supermoon traces its name back to early Native American tribes who called it such because it marked the appearance of the ground phlox (or moss pink) – one of the first spring flowers.
This year the moon will reach peak illumination at 6:44 pm CT.
There will also be the first supermoon of the year occurring on 16 May 2022, but this will be overshadowed by an even bigger astronomical event – a total lunar eclipse – causing the May supermoon to appear blood-red in the sky as it’s obscured by the Earth’s shadow.
For the best views of the moons, and views of astronomical spectacles in general, it’s always recommended to head to places with as little light pollution as possible. If you’re living in the city, finding dark skies can be a little difficult. But to help you on your mission, use this light pollution map to guide your way.