A rare Pink Supermoon will be visible tonight in the UK, meaning the moon will look bigger and brighter than usual.

Supermoons occur when the moon’s orbit brings it closest to the Earth, also known as the ‘perigee’.

Despite its name, the moon won’t be pink in colour – it’s actually named after a pink flower called phlox subulata that blooms during the spring in the US, because it is the first full moon of the spring.

Speaking about supermoons Tania de Sales Marques, an astronomer with the Royal Observatory, told Newsweek, she said: “What is commonly called a supermoon happens when the moon comes closest to us, at perigee, and is either at a full moon or new moon phase.

“So a full moon is also a supermoon when the full phase coincides with perigee.

“A full moon coinciding with perigee is an annual event, but since a supermoon is not so strictly defined, the threshold for what’s considered a supermoon may vary to also include full moons that come close to perigee. This more relaxed definition can give us more than one supermoon per year.”

If you’re hoping to get a decent view of the Pink Supermoon then you’re best keeping your eyes to the skies (while maintaining social distancing) at 2.35am on 8 April in the UK – but don’t worry if that’s a bit too late for you, it will still visible earlier on.

Revealing how you can get make sure you get chance of seeing it, de Sales Marques said: “A full moon at perigee is just seven percent larger than a regular full moon, so the difference in size is not discernible, however it does appear slightly brighter than usual.

“The best thing to do is to wait until after the sun has set and the sky is dark, find an unobstructed view of the sky, and weather permitting you should get to see a slightly brighter than usual full moon.

“And if you’re thinking of taking a picture to mark the occasion, just be aware that you’ll need proper equipment, such as a camera with a long telephoto lens, as the moon captured on a phone will look more like a blob.”