Pink moon: Biggest supermoon of 2020 illuminates the sky

The biggest full moon of 2020 known as the 'pink supermoon' illuminated the night sky all across the globe on Tuesday.

Its name is a northern Native American reference to an early-blooming wildflower called phlox subulata which are bright pink in colour and arefirst seen across North America as spring begins.

It occurs when the moon reaches its closest position to the Earth, known as the perigee, making the satellite appear bigger and brighter than usual.

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It wasabout 0.1 per centcloser to Earth than the March full moon was, making it the biggest supermoonof2020, NASA reported.

Moreover, it appeared 7 per centlarger than an average full moon.

Interestingly, the moon itself didn't look pink, but itappeared more golden as it roseabove the horizon due to an effect caused by the planet's atmosphere, similar to how the sunappears more red as it rises and sets, according toNASA.

April's full moon has also been known as the "sprouting grass moon" or "egg moon," heralding other first signs of spring.