Skywatchers: Don’t miss out on the last supermoon of 2020 on May 7

The last supermoon of 2020 will appear in the skies on Thursday morning, May 7, 2020, opposite the sun (in Earth-based longitude) at 6:45 a.m. EDT (18:45 BJT), according to NASA. The Moon will appear full for about three days around this time, from Tuesday evening through Friday morning.

The size of the supermoon is up to seven percent larger and 15 percent brighter than a typical full moon. According to Space.com, the full moon measures about 31 arc minutes, or 0.52 degrees wide in the night sky on average, and on May 7 it will be about 33 arc minutes (0.55 degrees) across. A clenched fist can get you the reference for it measures about 10 degrees wide at your arm’s length.

Binoculars and telescopes are not specifically required, but these tools can give you a clearer view and more details of the moon. Unlike observing the sun, there are no harmful effects from looking at the moon with our bare eyes.

The supermoon, also known as Flower Moon, Corn Planting Moon, Milk Moon, is named by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. It occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest (perigee) to the Earth at the same time it is full.

For 2020, the four full Moons from February through May meet this 90 percent threshold, with the largest, brightest full moon falling on April 8.

While a supermoon is considered less serious and scientific than an eclipse, it represents a chance to encourage people to start looking at the moon. The next full supermoon won’t come around until late April in 2021.