How to photograph Pink Moon 2021 – get stunning snaps of tonight’s Super Moon

A PHOTOGRAHY expert has given her top tips for taking snaps of the Pink Moon as it graces night skies around the globe again tonight.

Writing in the Guardian on Tuesday, Carly Earl advised that amateur photographers download a special camera app to ensure images captured on a smartphone come out as clear as possible.

A Pink Supermoon rises behind a helicopter in this photo captured from Liberty State Park in Hoboken, NJ on MondayCredit: Alamy

What is a Pink Moon?

April’s full moon is traditionally known as the Pink Moon.

Rather than it being a reference to the colour, it’s because the moon’s appearance coincides with the flowering of a type of pink moss.

Phlox Subulata typically appears in Spring in some regions of the northern hemisphere.

Other names for the Pink Moon include the Sprouting Grass Moon and the Egg Moon.

The Moon rises behind the Sydney Opera HouseCredit: Getty

Monday’s celestial showcase was also the first of two supermoons in 2021.

The title of “supermoon” is granted to full and new moons that pass Earth at the closest point in their orbit.

In April and May, that closest point will be less than 224,000 miles.

Nasa’s Gordon Johnston said: “The term ‘supermoon’ was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979.

“It refers to either a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is within 90 per cent of perigee, its closest approach to Earth.

“These two full moons are virtually tied, with the full moon on 26 May, 2021, slightly closer to the Earth than the full moon [in April], but only by about 157km, or about 0.04 per cent of the distance from Earth to the moon at perigee.”

One photo expert recommends downloading a special camera app to ensure photos captured on a smartphone come out sharp and clearCredit: Getty

How to photograph the Pink Moon

Guardian Australia picture editor Carly Earl explained the dos and don’ts of taking pictures of the Super Moon in an article on Tuesday.

She suggested lining the Moon up with an object, such as a bridge or mountain, to give the viewer a perspective of its size.

Ideally, photographers would use a proper camera with a telephoto lens, but those relying on their smartphones can still nab a decent shot.

Using a special camera app (not the default one on your phone) that shoots well in low light will increase your chances of a clear shot, Carly wrote.

Apps that allow you to increase your sensitivity rating will allow you to shoot in low light.

Sticking an object in the foreground will highlight the Pink Moon's abnormal size — Sticking an object in the foreground will highlight the Pink Moon’s abnormal sizeCredit: Alamy

Some smartphone cameras, such as those on newer Samsung, iPhone and Huawei devices, have solid low light modes built into their software.

For those with proper camera equipment, ideally you’d have a proper telephoto or zoom lens and a tripod to hand.

Using a cable release or two-second delay timer will prevent shake when you release the shutter, Carly explained.

She suggested setting your ISO to 100 and file size to Raw to keep the image quality at its highest. An aperture of around f8 should work just fine.

If you're using a proper camera, trying using a tripod and a telephoto or zoom lens — If you’re using a proper camera, trying using a tripod and a telephoto or zoom lensCredit: Getty

When to see the Pink Moon again

This year’s Pink Moon peaked at 4.31am on April 27, but will appear full in the sky to casual observers on each day either side.

Forecasters at the Met Office have predicted ideal conditions for those keen to see the moon at its fullest.

Skies should remain clear for much of tonight, they said, although there will be “some persistent rain for northern Scotland”.

John Maclean, an astronomy expert who runs Exeter Observatory, told DevonLive: “Don’t expect to see a particularly ‘huge’ moon.

“On average, a supermoon is about 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than a normal full moon, and while this may not make much difference, the moon will look larger as it rises over the horizon.”