As the pink supermoon rose on Apr. 26, many gathered at Deering Estate to watch it in all its glory, while maintaining COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. 

The first of the two supermoons expected in 2021 appeared 8% closer to Earth than the average moon because of its slight elliptical orbit. Supermoons appear bigger because its orbit lies closest to the perigee, or the closest point on the axis to Earth. Despite its name, the moon did not appear pink. Its name stems from the herb pink moss, the earliest spring flower in the United States.

The Deering Estate sold a limited amount of tickets through their website to watch the supermoon. Members attended for free; tickets cost $10 for non-members. A limited number of people attended (about 400, including the Deering Estate Foundation Members), allowing people to maintain social distancing guidelines. 

“We have reimagined our programs and events to accommodate for limited capacity and social distancing. In the past, we have partnered with Southern Cross Astronomical Society for the Full Moon Viewing programs, and they have provided telescopes for guests to observe the full moon. For the April program, they will not be on-site and for safety reasons, guests are asked to bring their own telescopes and binoculars. We look forward to partnering with them again once it is safe to do so,” Deering Estate Visitor Engagement Emily Krapf said.

Guests brought their own chairs and blankets to enjoy an on-site picnic. They could remove their masks while they ate or drank. 

Guests also enjoyed the musical talents of Frozen Music (Gustavo Matamoros, David Dunn and Rene Barge), an experimental sound performance that offers multichannel sound performances.

 “Using custom-designed audio technology to activate and stimulate outdoor spaces, the Frozen Music collective engages otherwise inaudible phenomena in the fields of science, nature and architecture… through an extensive survey of the property, FM has elevated the unheard acoustics of the Estate for audiences to create a sound portrait – a curated composition that celebrates the auditory elements of the subject,” Krapf said. 

The money raised from the event will go towards revenue recovery to address the economic impact COVID-19 has had on Deering Estate.