Following a blockbuster hit as part of a total solar eclipse in early April, the moon will make another notable appearance in the sky over the next few days. This time, a “pink” full moon will rise in the evening sky Tuesday.
But unless an unexpected atmospheric phenomenon occurs, such as wildfire smoke, the moon won’t actually appear pink to our eyes. Instead, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the moon should be “its usual golden color near the horizon, fading to a bright white as it glides overhead.”
April’s full moon takes its name from one of the earliest and most widespread flowers of spring. Here’s what you need to know:
When is the full moon in April?
The full moon will occur on Tuesday, April 23rd at 7:49pm ET.
According to NASA, the moon will appear full to our eyes for about three days, from Monday morning to Thursday morning.
Why is it called Pink Moon?
For thousands of years, people around the world, including Native Americans, have named the moon after natural cues. Each full moon has its own name.
According to NASA, the Maine Farmer’s Almanac began listing Native American full moon names in the 1930s, and these names are now widely known and used.
April’s full moon is known as the Pink Moon, named after the herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox, and mountain phlox. This is a plant native to the eastern United States and is one of the earliest flowers to spread in the spring.
Creeping phlox grows in sandy or rocky soils and is often used as a ground cover plant, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
According to NASA, other names for this moon include germinating grass moon, egg moon, and, among North American coastal tribes, fish moon because this is the time when shad swim upstream to spawn. It is said that there is.
