Bigger and brighter: pink supermoon to light up UAE skies on Tuesday

It will be the first supermoon of the year

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  A pink supermoon is seen in the background as people relax on the beach in Miami Beach, US, on June 24, 2021. Four supermoons will grace the skies in 2022. AFP

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  An aeroplane is pictured against an almost full pink supermoon, in Iraq's southern city of Basra. AFP

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  A man watches on as an almost full pink supermoon rises over Istanbul in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images

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  A pink supermoon is pictured near a lighthouse in Tirana, Albania. Reuters

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  A full pink supermoon rises above the Emirates Air Line cable car in London, Britain. Reuters

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  A full pink supermoon rises over the skyline of New York and Empire State Building, as seen from West Orange, in New Jersey, US. Reuters

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  A full pink supermoon is seen rising behind the Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick, in York, Maine, US. EPA

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  A full pink supermoon rises above Havana, Cuba. AFP

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  A pink supermoon rises behind the stork in a nest in the village of Rzanicino near Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia. EPA

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  A full pink supermoon sets over the famous Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Getty Images

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  A full pink supermoon rises behind Glastonbury Tor in Glastonbury, England. Getty Images

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  A full pink supermoon rising behind a statue of the Christ in Wolxheim, France. AFP

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  A full pink supermoon rises over Nicosia on the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. AP Photo

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  The moon rises to become a pink supermoon among the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, in Singapore. Reuters

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  A view of the Golden Horn, with a full pink supermoon rising behind Istanbul's iconic Galata Tower. AP Photo

Stargazers across the UAE are in for a treat, with a "pink supermoon" set to appear in the sky in the early hours of Tuesday.

The supermoon, which occurs when the Moon is at its closest approach to Earth, will be the first of two to occur this year.

It will be about 7 per cent bigger and 14 per cent brighter than a regular full moon.

It will be at its apex after midnight on April 27 in the UAE, but will be visible around the world.

The name of the astronomical event does not have much to do with the colour of the Moon. The event was called the "pink moon" in the 1930s because it occurs close to spring when flowers are in bloom.

"In the 1930s, the Maine Farmer's Almanac began publishing American Indian moon names for the months of the year," said US space agency Nasa.

“According to this almanac, as the full moon in April, this is the pink moon, named after the herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox, or mountain phlox. The plant is native to the eastern United States and is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.”

Nasa said other names for this moon included the "sprouting grass moon", "egg moon" and "fish moon".

Some religions have their own names for the cosmic event. In Eastern Christianity, it is called the "paschal moon".

For Hindus, it corresponds with Hanuman Jayanti, the celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman.

In Buddhism, particularly in Sri Lanka, the moon marks Bak Poya, which commemorates when the Buddha visited Sri Lanka and settled a dispute between chiefs.

The second supermoon will appear on May 26 and will be even closer to Earth than the first one.

Geminids meteor shower 2020 - in pictures

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  A Geminids meteor shower lit up UAE skies on December 13, 2020. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  About 200 people turned up at Wadi Shawka in Ras Al Khaimah to watch the celestial event as part of a gathering organised by the Dubai Astronomy Group. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  The Geminid meteor shower in Mleiha, Sharjah. Prabhu Astrophotography for The National

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  Another shot of the Geminid meteor shower from Mleiha, Sharjah. Prabhu Astrophotography for The National

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  The showers were the most visible ones of the year in the UAE and were at their peak from 10pm to 2am. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Clear skies and no Moon interference enhanced the experience. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Those who watched away from light pollution were wowed by the large number of 'shooting stars'. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  People of all ages attended the gathering. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Members of the Dubai Astronomy Group gave presentations and educated guests on the celestial event. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Hasan Al Hariri, chief executive of the Dubai Astronomy Group. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  The showers were visible to the naked eye, but telescopes were available to see the 'shooting stars' up close and observe other planets. Chris Whiteoak / The National