Moon will be smallest in size on April 22

Kolkata, April 21: The moon will appear to be smaller in size on full moon day tomorrow, a phenomenon known as 'Mini Moon' which will recur only after 15 years.

Tonight at 9.35 PM IST, the moon will be at apogee - the farthest point in its orbit around the earth which is a distance of around 4,06,350 km from the earth. On an average the moon is 3,84,000 km away from the earth.

"When the full moon happens tomorrow it will still be very close to its farthest point from the earth. So it will be smaller than an average full moon," Debiprosad Duari, Director of M P Birla Planetarium, Kolkata, said.

Sky-gazers will, however, not be able to see the 'Mini Moon' phenomenon which will happen at 10.55 AM tomorrow due to daylight.

However, at night the view of the 'Mini Moon' will only be a shade lighter, he said. The next time when the moon will be farther than tomorrow will be on December 10, 2030, he said.

The colour of the celestial body will be its usual silvery pearl and not any shade of pink or green as was being rumoured over the internet, Duari said.

Compared to a supermoon, a phenomenon when the moon is nearest to the earth, the mini moon will be 14 per cent smaller in size.

PTI