Are you a seasoned sky-gazer? The skies are blazing with meteor showers and supermoons this year! Kicking off with the Lyrid meteor shower happening on 22 April and Pink Moon on 24 April!
It’s no surprise that supermoons and other astronomical phenomena always get our attention – the moon, earth’s closest companion, is the one celestial neighbour that everyone worldwide can see in the night sky. This fascination with the moon is seen in many ancient cultures. There is so much folklore about the moon’s magic! You and the kiddos are in for a treat with supermoon spotting in Singapore in 2024. Plus, the moon’s not the only beauty lighting up the sky this year; expect to see some cool meteorological events, too. In April 2024, we’ll be treated to two celestial events: the Lyrid meteor shower and the Pink Moon!
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Meteor showers happening in Singapore
Supermoons happening in Singapore
Space and moon-themed activities to do with kids
Meteor showers in Singapore 2024
Get ready to sprinkle some celestial magic into your nights! This year, we’re in for a treat with two meteor showers.
What are meteor showers?
First things first, what are meteor showers all about? A meteor shower is a celestial event in which many meteors are observed to radiate or originate from one point in the night sky. These meteors are caused by streams of cosmic debris called meteoroids entering Earth’s atmosphere at extremely high speeds on parallel trajectories, resulting in celestial displays streaking across the skies. Here’s a video on the lowdown:
Meteor Showers visible in Singapore 2024
1. The Lyrid meteor shower (and the Pink Supermoon to catch in the same week!)
The Lyrid meteor shower is gearing up for its dazzling performance in Singapore’s skies, kicking off on 22 April 2024 and twinkling till the wee hours of 23 April. You’ll be treated to a celestial spectacle that’s been wowing us for nearly 3,000 years! Look out for a few short streaks of light flying across the sky in the span of a few minutes, from around the time the sky is darkest in Singapore.
But wait, the cosmic fun doesn’t stop there! Brace yourselves for the grand entrance of the Pink Moon, a supermoon extravaganza on 24 April, peeking over the eastern horizon after 7.22pm. Can you imagine a moon dressed in pink? Well, you won’t need your imagination for this one! Read more about it below.
2. Eta Aquarids
On 5 May, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will grace the eastern sky around 3am. Read NASA’s overview of this meteor shower here.
Where to see the meteor showers in Singapore 2024
Are you ready for a stellar meteor shower viewing party? Thankfully, no special equipment is needed for meteor showers — just your keen eyes and a sense of wonder!
It’s all about finding the perfect spot away from the city’s buzz and light pollution. You might want to visit nature parks, beaches, or reservoirs where the stars can shine.
Additionally, check out the Science Centre Observatory’s Stargazing sessions.
2024 Supermoons in Singapore
What’s a supermoon?
What makes a moon super? No, it isn’t about sporting a cape and saving the planet! To understand supermoons, we’ve got to go back to the classroom and learn the following:
The moon orbits the Earth in an ellipse, an oval that brings it closer to and farther from Earth as it goes around. The farthest point is the apogee, about 405,500 kilometres from Earth on average. The closest point is called the perigee at about 363,300 kilometres from Earth. Are you still with us?
A supermoon occurs when the full moon appears at the perigee, where the moon is closest to Earth. Hence, we see a slightly larger and brighter full moon.
The supermoons to look out for in 2024!
- Pink Moon on 24 April 2024
Yes, right after the celestial display on 22 to 23 April, we’ll be treated to a rare Pink Moon on 24 April. If you’re expecting the moon to sport Barbie hues, take note that the moon will not appear pink! This moon was named after Native American traditions, paying homage to the pink creeping phlox plant. The Pink Moon is the fourth full moon of 2024, and will appear slightly larger and brighter than the regular full moons.
Here are all the other Supermoons to look out for this year:
- Sturgeon Moon on 20 August 2024
- Harvest Moon on 18 September 2024
- Hunter’s Moon on 17 October 2024
- Beaver Moon on 15 November 2024
More deets on these supermoons to come!
Activities to do with the kiddos on the night of a meteor shower or supermoon…
Get your kids excited about the meteor showers and supermoons with some fun activities! It’s an opportunity for them to understand more about the Earth and sleep just a tad later. Here are some ideas to keep them entertained and informed:
1. Make a moon snack
Make moon gazing tasty with this yummy treat from Thingstoshareandremember! It’s simple, and kiddos can get in on the fun. This rice cake snack can be tweaked according to what you have on hand to mimic the moon’s craters and surface.
2. Create some moon craft
As you watch the moon rise in the sky (weather willing), get kiddos to create their very own foil art moon using the following instructions!
3. Read some moon-themed classics
These moon-themed classics are perfect for the occasion
4. Learn some facts about the moon
Teach the kiddos some cool facts about the moon. Check out this article from National Geographic.
Have a super time gazing at the meteor showers and supermoons this year!