Facebook Twitter
Thursday, September 28, 2023 | 
U.S. & World Science & Tech

Here’s how to see the Super Pink Moon this week

This month’s full moon will be this year’s biggest and brightest

By Anne Wallace Anne Wallace
SHARE Here’s how to see the Super Pink Moon this week
A Blue Moon rises Friday, July 31, 2015 as seen from Taguig city east of Manila, Philippines. A 30 pound lunar meteorite is being sold for $2.5 million.

A Blue Moon rises Friday, July 31, 2015 as seen from Taguig city east of Manila, Philippines. A Blue Moon occurs when two full moons fall on the same month.

Bullit Marquez, Associated Press

A “Super Pink Moon” is set to rise this week, and will reach its biggest on Wednesday when the moon is full, Science Focus reports.

What’s happening with the ‘Super Pink Moon’?

  • The “Super Pink Moon” will be the biggest and best super moon of the year, Forbes reports.
  • A Super Moon occurs when the moon is closer to the Earth than regular, which happens because the moon has an elliptical orbit.
  • On Wednesday, the moon will only be 221,851 miles away rather than its regular distance of 238,855 miles, NBC DFW reports.
  • It will look 7% bigger and be 16% brighter than a regular full moon, according to the Weather Channel.

Is the Super Pink Moon actually pink?

  • It isn’t literally going to be pink. The moon will be the same color as usual. It’s just called a pink moon because it comes in spring when moss pink wildflowers are in bloom, Yahoo! News reports.

What is the best time to view it?

  • The best time to view it is not on the night of the full moon, as it will be too bright. Instead, Science Focus suggests looking with binoculars or a telescope a few nights before or after the full moon. This way, more details such as the moon’s craters will be easier to see.
  • If you want to view it on Wednesday night, Forbes suggests you try and look during moonrise — before the moon reaches its full brightness. To find out when moonrise will take place in your city, they linked the following moonrise calculator.