Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology How to see the ‘Super Flower Moon,’ the last supermoon of 2020
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon, also known as the pink moon, rises over the Papago Park Buttes on April 7, 2020. It is the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2020.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
Hikers enjoy the views at Papago Park as the moon rises in Phoenix April 5, 2020. Social distancing guidelines from the coronavirus pandemic haven’t kept people off the hiking trails.
Michael Chow/The Republic
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon, also known as the pink moon, rises over the Papago Park Buttes on April 7, 2020. It is the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2020.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon rises over a neon ice cream cone on a Braum’s sign in Owasso, Okla., April 7, 2020.
Mike Simons, Tulsa World via AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
A plane approaches Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as hikers on “A” mountain enjoy the views while the moon rises behind them in Tempe on April 5, 2020. Social distancing orders from the coronavirus pandemic has not kept people from crowding hiking trails.
Michael Chow/The Republic
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon, also known as the pink moon, rises over the Papago Park Buttes on April 7, 2020. It is the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2020.
Rob Schumacher/The Republic
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
A view of the supermoon over Santiago’s Cathedral, in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
Lavandeira jr, EPA-EFE
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon is seen from Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The pink supermoon rises over St. Louis on April 7, 2020. April’s supermoon is the brightest and largest it will be for all of 2020.
David Carson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon appears from behind a cloud as seen from Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The so-called pink supermoon rises above the Highway 509 bridge over the Thea Foss Waterway, April 7, 2020, in Tacoma, Wash.
Ted S. Warren, AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
A supermoon rises behind the campanile on the University of Kansas campus In Lawrence, Kan., April 7, 2020.
Orlin Wagner, AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon rises, with the Elbphilharmonie in the foreground, in Hamburg, Germany, Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
Axel Heimken, dpa via AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon rises behind an illuminated cross on a Christian Orthodox church in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. The phenomenon of supermoon’ happens when the moon is at its closest point to the earth and looks larger than usual.
Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon sets behind the Brandenburg Gate, April 8, 2020, in Berlin, Germany, with the Quadriga on the Brandenburg Gate seen on foreground.
Paul Zinken, dpa via AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
A plane flies in front of a supermoon on Feb.19, 2019, in Nuremberg, Germany.
DANIEL KARMANN, DPA via AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon rises behind the cross on the Bell tower of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 7, 2020.
Pavel Golovkin, AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
An Emirates Air Line cable cars is silhouetted against the backdrop of the supermoon in Greenwich, London on Feb. 19, 2019. On Tuesday, the moon will “only” be about 221,000 miles from Earth, which is about 17,000 miles closer than average.
YUI MOK, PA via AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
A supermoon rises behind a statue of the Roman god Mercury mounted on top of a hotel tower, April 7, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Humphrey, AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
A supermoon rises over the Parthenon on the ancient Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece, on Feb. 19, 2019.
PETROS GIANNAKOURIS, AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
A supermoon rises behind the artwork titled Seven Magic Mountains by artist Ugo Rondinone, April 7, 2020, in Las Vegas.
John Locher, AP
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
A supermoon sets as seen from Whitley Bay, England, as the sun begins to rise, early on Feb. 19, 2019.
OWEN HUMPHREYS, PA via AP
Autoplay
Show Thumbnails
Show Captions
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology
The Full Pink Moon seen in April 2020
The supermoon, also known as the pink moon, rises over the Papago Park Buttes on April 7, 2020. It is the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2020.
Anne Ryman, Arizona Republic
Published 4:11 p.m. MT May 5, 2020
CLOSE
Arizona is taking steps to gradually re-open, but many people may be nervous about venturing out and doing too much too quickly.
Stepping outside your house to view the so-called Super Flower Moon this week, however, is a comfortable and a safe way to end the day.
The best night for seeing the Super Flower Moon is Wednesday, May 6. But a nearly full moon on Thursday evening will make for great viewing that evening as well.
The best time to view the supermoon is while it rises in the sky because the contrast against buildings and trees makes the moon appear even larger. On Wednesday night, the moonrise is at 6:40 p.m. in the Phoenix area. On Thursday, the moonrise is at 7:52 p.m. If you live outside the Phoenix area, enter your city’s name into this website to find moonrise times for your area.
“There’s a lot of neat stuff to look at in the sky, but the moon is right up there as one of my favorites because you can see so much without any equipment,” said Kevin Schindler, a historian at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology Moon activities for the family
Schindler recommends three activities that can make moon gazing more fun and interactive:
- See who can spot the moon first. Go outside a few minutes before the moon rises and try to guess exactly where the moon will appear over the horizon. Will it appear over this fence post? Or that tree?
- Observe how the color changes. As it rises, the moon takes on a pink-orange glow, which is due to the Earth’s atmosphere. A couple hours later, the moon appears gray and white when it’s high in the sky.
- Watch a special program on the moon live from Arizona. Lowell Observatory will host an hour-long show on the internet, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The livestream will feature pictures and maps, and a discussion of the moon’s geography and formation.
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology What is a supermoon?
Supermoons happen a few times a year when the moon is closest to the Earth in its orbit. The name comes from appearing about 14% larger and 30% brighter than a typical full moon. The May supermoon is known as the “flower moon,” because flowers typically cover the ground in many parts of the country.
Science Tips Tips Tricks Technology When is the next supermoon?
If you miss the May supermoon, you will have to wait almost a year for the next one. The next supermoon won’t make an appearance until April 27, 2021.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8072. Follow her on Twitter @anneryman.
Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2020/05/05/how-see-super-flower-moon-arizona/3079279001/
