The full moon in April, sometimes referred to as the “pink” moon, will rise in the sky on Tuesday night and continue to be almost entirely visible on Wednesday night.
The “pink moon” will appear like any other moon; it is not genuinely pink. It gets its name from the fact that it always falls around the first signs of spring in North America.
In the night sky, it won’t be by itself. There will also be visibility of numerous planets during the ongoing Lyrid meteor shower.
When will the moon become pink?
Tuesday at 7:49 p.m. Eastern, as it rises above the horizon in the east-southeast sky over the eastern United States, the pink moon officially becomes full. Moonrise in Washington occurs around 7:52 p.m.
Moonrise is also close to sunset in much of the United States. For instance, sunset in Washington occurs around 7:54 p.m.
Tuesday’s moonrise will be a fantastic photo opportunity because the moon looks to be at its fullest when it is close to the horizon and the sunset period provides an appealing ambient light.
What gives it the name “pink moon”?
As per the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the pink moon occurs at a season when blooms, like the vibrant pastel carpet of creeping phlox, are abundant. While various cultures have other names for our star buddy, Native Americans are the source of most popular names for him. The egg moon, fish moon, and grass moon are among other names for the full moon in April.
In the sky around the pink moon, what else can you make out?
The Lyrid meteor shower for April is almost at its zenith as the pink moon lights up the night sky. Sadly, the moon’s illumination will make it harder to discern the comparatively feeble trails left by any meteors, but persistent and observant skywatchers may still find success.
One could witness up to 10 to 20 meteors every hour, mostly in the absence of city lights. NASA advises looking away from the constellation Lyra, which is where meteors appear to originate, when out stargazing in order to make any trails appear longer and more vivid.
Through the late evening hours on the East Coast, Jupiter can also be seen low on the western horizon. During the pre-dawn hours, a planetary pairing of Mars and Saturn should also be visible low on the eastern horizon.
The following full moon, dubbed the flower moon, will rise on May 23 after the pink moon passes.