Rare Pink Supermoon lights up the sky - here are the best photos

Last night, photographers were able to capture stunning images of the “Pink Supermoon”, which illuminated the skies.

At 04:31 BST on Tuesday April 27, the pink supermoon peaked, lighting up the night’s sky with a warm shade of gold before it set in the west. 

A “supermoon” occurs when we have a full moon at the same time the moon is closer to the Earth on its elliptical orbit - as a result the moon appears bigger and brighter than usual.

Depending on the time of year, a supermoon can appear up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than a normal full moon, according to NASA.

Historically, supermoons were used to track the seasons so it’s not surprising that the name derives from nature.

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It’s claimed the pink supermoon occurs at the same time as when the pink phlox flowers bloom.

It’s named as a “pink” supermoon because it’s the super moon that’s closest to the flower blossom season.

Another claim is that pink supermoon also takes place at the same time of the year as when the pink phlox or moss pink flowers bloom.

People from all around the word were able to capture the event:

From Glastonbury in England...

The full moon rises behind Glastonbury Tor on April 26, 2021 in Glastonbury, England..

...to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France...

A supermoon rises over the Eiffel Tower on April 26, 2021 in Paris, France.

...to the San Andreas Fault in California.

The Super Pink Moon rises behind the Leathers Geothermal Facility, a power plant that taps into deep underground heat near the Salton Sea at the southern tip of the San Andreas Fault, on April 26, 2021 near Calipatria, California.

Many were also sharing their shots of the rare event on social media:

Don’t worry if you missed it - although the pink supermoon peaked last night, it will be visibly full each night until sunrise on Wednesday, April 28.

The next supermoon is traditionally known as the “Flower Supermoon” and will occur on May 26 this year, the second of the two supermoons to take place in 2021.