Supermoon captured in photo

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - April's full moon was a "supermoon," so called because of our natural satellite's appearance.

A supermoon is a full moon (or a new moon) that coincides with lunar perigee, which is the closest the moon comes to the earth while in its elliptical orbit.

The full moon of nearly every month has one or more nicknames, a fact of which our columnist Elizabeth Woodworth nearly always mentions in her first column of each month. (You can catch her column on Wednesdays).

The April full moon is known by several other names, such as the Pink Moon, from pink phlox flowers that bloom in early spring; Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, Hare Moon and Egg Moon. Because it is the moon used to calculate the date for Easter, it also is called the Paschal Moon. Paschal is an adjective meaning relating to Easter or Passover.

Regardless of what it is called, Harrisburg Register/Eldorado Journal Sports Editor Michael Dann captured a stunning image of this year's April supermoon, which will be the closest supermoon to the earth in 2020.