2019’s second Supermoon Bhopali skywatchers in for a treat

Bhopal: The city sky-watchers were in for a treat as 2019’s second Supermoon appeared on Tuesday.
The Supermoon, traditionally named the ‘Super Snow Moon’, hung over the city skyline as early as 6:05 in the evening. This was the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year, according to Nasa.
The first Supermoon of 2019 was the Super Blood Wolf Moon on Jan.20-21, which coincided with a total lunar eclipse, also known as a “blood moon”.
Taking opportunity of the cosmic spectacle, photographers and budding astronomers gathered at a number of parks and open spaces to experience the phenomenon.
Three telescopes were also set up at Regional Science Centre for Bhopalis to take a look at the second Supermoon in the series of three this year. According to experts, the moon was full astronomically at 10:53pm Monday, but it appeared the biggest during moonrise.
“The reason moon looked especially bigger during the moonrise as compared to the time it was in the middle of the sky was because it was at the horizon during that time”, said educational assistant at the Regional Science Centre, Swapnil Singh.
“We installed the telescope after 6:00pm at the centre on Tuesday for people to come and get a good look at the phenomenon. We installed the refractor telescope as it was the most suitable to cover the celestial extravaganza,” he said.
Residents in large numbers gathered at Manuabhan ki Tekri and Upper Lake to get a good view, without any obstruction.
“I try to keep up with astronomy as a hobby and I go to Manuabhan Ki Tekri to capture such events with my camera because it provides an unhindered view,” said a journalism student, Raja Singh Seepal.
“I have been waiting for this moon because it is supposed to be the biggest and brightest. I got some very good photographs of the January supermoon,” said a photographer Chayan Bisare.
The next Supermoon is expected on March 21.