Supermoons 2020 – UK dates, names, and how to spot the next one
STARGAZERS can enjoy a larger - and brighter - Moon than usual in our night sky when a Supermoon occurs - a breathtaking wonder of light and natural beauty.
And March saw the first of a trilogy of Supermoons. Here's when to spot the next one just before Easter...
When can we see Supermoons during 2020?
February's Snow Moon - possibly the biggest and brightest of the year - was, according to some, the first of four similar events in 2020.
The February moon was also the first to occur since March 2019 - but there were mixed opinions over whether it was a Supermoon or not.
Here's some that are DEFINITELY Supermoons - with the next one in April:
APRIL 2020: Super Pink Moon
This is another Supermoon in 2020, being 357,035km from Earth on April 7 to April 8.
It's also a special Moon as it fixes the date of Easter, which falls on the first Sunday after the Pink Moon (April 12), and marks the start of the Jewish Passover.
It's also known as the Egg Moon or Fish Moon.
MAY 2020: Super Flower Moon
If you look to the skies on May 7 you will see the final Full Moon Supermoon of 2020.
It is the fourth consecutive Supermoon in 2020 and is also known as Corn Planting Moon and Milk Moon.
This moon is at a distance of 361,184km from Earth.
Was February's Full Moon a Supermoon
Some experts believe that the Snow Moon - the Full Moon in the month of February and named after when the snow is deepest - is a Supermoon.
Astrologers and space buffs found out by viewing between Friday, February 7 through to the evening of Monday, February 10.
However NASA's Preston Dyches told Space.com: "'Supermoon' isn't an official astronomical term, and there's no firm technical definition for it, so different sources sometimes disagree."
also pointed out that experts don't agree on what constitutes a Supermoon, with some dismissing it as "hype".
over whether the February Full Moon is Super or not as it is 362,479km from Earth.
However, even if it's not "officially" a Supermoon, the best time to have seen it in the UK was on Sunday, February 9, at 7.33am.
What was the Supermoon in March?
The Full Moon in this month fell on Monday, March 9 and was called Super Worm Moon.
It was best viewed at 5.47pm in the UK.
This Moon was at a distance of 357,404km from Earth making it a Supermoon.
This particular spectacle is also known as the Sap Moon, Crow Moon or Lenten Moon.
How can I best view a Supermoon?
For the best view of the Supermoon, make sure that you're as far away from light pollution as possible.
US space agency Nasa often runs live-streams of the lunar event so keep an eye out for them too.
And keep your fingers crossed that the clouds will stay away.
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What is a Supermoon?
A Supermoon is when a Full Moon appears a little bigger and brighter thanks to its slightly closer position to Earth, 361,885km or less.
Supermoon's can be up to 14 per cent larger and brighter than a regular Full Moon.
explains that "Supermoon is actually just a nickname for what astronomers call a perigean full Moon – a Moon that is full and at its closest point in its orbit around Earth".
The term was created by astrologer Richard Nolle.
The astrologer explained that the phenomenon is “a new or full moon which occurs with the moon at or near (within 90 per cent of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit.”
Based on Nolle’s theory, the moon would have to be 226,000 miles away from the Earth to be considered "super".
Because of its relatively close proximity to the Earth, the celestial body’s surface appears a lot bigger when a Supermoon occurs.
Stargazers can also enjoy a "season" of three New Moon Supermoons on September 17, October 16 and November 15.