Jody Serrano
Editor in chiefEditor in Chief at Xataka On. Before joining Webedia, I was a tech reporter at Gizmodo and The Messenger. While I've covered all sorts of things related to technology, I'm specialized in writing about social media, Internet culture, Twitch, and streamers.
Get ready to potentially see a splash of color in the sky this weekend. The “Pink Moon” will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere on Saturday, though it may not be as big as you’re used to seeing it.
What’s a Pink Moon? The Pink Moon is the first full moon of April and spring. However, its name doesn’t really have anything to do with it being pink. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the name of April’s full moon comes from the bloom of a Phlox subulata, a flower in North America that’s commonly known as creeping phlox or moss phlox. This flower was often called “moss pink” and tended to be in full bloom during April’s full moon.
Furthermore, while April’s full moon is called a Pink Moon, there’s no guarantee that it’ll actually appear pink. If you want a chance at seeing the moon this color, the best thing to do is to watch when the moon is low on the horizon at dusk just after the sun sets. At this time, the Moon shines through the thickest part of the Earth’s atmosphere, which allows the long-wavelength reddish light to shine through the satellite.
The Pink Moon has other names, too. The Almanac explains that it’s known as the “Paschal Full Moon” in Christianity and determines the day Easter will fall on each year.
Why is the Pink Moon small? This year’s Pink Moon stands out because it’s also a “micromoon,” which means that it’ll appear smaller and dimmer in the sky. This is because the full moon will take place just because the satellite reaches apogee, or the point where the Moon is the farthest from Earth.
It’s the opposite of what happens during a “Supermoon” event, where the Moon appears bigger because it’s at the closest point to our planet, called perigee, in its elliptical orbit.
When can I see the Pink Moon? It depends on what you want to see. If you want a chance at seeing a Pink Moon that potentially might actually look pink, your best bet is to look at the sky around sunset. However, it will be visible throughout the night.
In New York City, for example, the Moon will rise at 7:30 p.m. ET, but it’ll be at its brightest at around 8:22 p.m. ET.
Reminder: The Pink Moon will be visible on Saturday.
Extra, extra. The Pink “micromoon” isn’t the only exciting thing happening in the sky in April, though. It’s a month full of bright stars and a “moon smile.”
On Saturday, in addition to the small Pink Moon, you’ll also be able to see the bright star Spica to the left of the satellite.
Furthermore, later in the month on April 25, a crescent Moon will appear in a triangle along with bright Venus and a dimmer Saturn. It’ll resemble a smiling face.
Images | Damien Walmsley (modified) | CEBImagery
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