Super Flower Moon 2020: How and when to watch the last supermoon of 2020 from India and how to watch livestream online

There is something deeply enchanting about the silvery-white expanse of a full moon. If you, like millions of others, are a fan of a magical moonlit night, we have a piece of good news for you. A supermoon is scheduled to light up the sky on May 7, Thursday and is going to be the last supermoon of the year 2020. So, we suggest marking your calendars and clearing your schedule to enjoy this celestial event in its entirety.

This month’s supermoon is known as the ‘Super Flower Moon’ and it is believed that early Native American tribes referred to it as the Flower Moon.

For the uninitiated, there was yet another supermoon which graced the sky on April, 7 which was called ‘Super Pink Moon.’ It got its name from a pink wildflower, Phlox subulata (nicknamed moss pink), which blooms in bunches during the springtime. The supermoon which will peak tomorrow coincides with Buddha Purnima, a holiday observed by Buddhists.

The term “supermoon” was coined by the astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. While a supermoon certainly looks majestic beyond words, it actually occurs when the Moon reaches its closest point to the Earth which is known as the perigee. Did you know that supermoon can be 14 per cent bigger and 30 per cent brighter than the usual Moon? Yes, that is the reason the sparkling supermoon seems all the more breathtaking and beautiful. While the difference may not be that evident, it is certainly a treat for a regular sky gazer.

In case you haven't noticed, supermoons are usually graced with alluring names, such as Pink Moon, Egg Moon, and Flower Moon. Traditionally, these astronomical events have been named after Native American seasons, regions or even flowers. These names were first published in the Maine Farmer's Almanac in the 1930s.

According to this Almanac, the full moon of the month of May is referred to as Flower Moon because of the spring season and the abundance of the flowers. Yes, it is indeed an ode to the flowers blooming in Northern Hemisphere. Some other names of this Moon are Full Corn Planting Moon as well as the Milk Moon.

The Super Flower Moon will embrace the sky and reach its full glory at 6:45 pm EDT and 4:15 pm IST (Indian Standard Time). Since it will be an evening in India at that time, unfortunately, Moon lovers in India won’t be able to enjoy the spectacular view. However, you don’t have to be disappointed as you can still adore the beauty of the Flower Moon on the live feed of Virtual Telescope Project and a website named Slooh. A live link should be up on their YouTube channels very soon.

Yes, we suggest enjoying the surreal beauty of the Super Flower Moon as it is the last supermoon of this year and you will have to wait for a whole year to lay your eyes on another majestic supermoon. The next one isn’t until April 2021 and will light up the sky on the 27th of April 2021. In fact, In the coming year, there will be just two supermoons, one in April and one in May.