Sky watchers can soon catch the first full moon of the season rising in the night sky.
April’s full pink moon will peak at 10:11 pm ET Wednesday, according to Time and Date. Regardless of the moniker, the silver orb will appear in its usual blue color.
The delightful name of the monthly event pays tribute to the annual flower Phlox subulata. A type of wild flower from eastern North America, i often called “moss pink,” it usually flowers during the full moon of April, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The moon could still be fully visible Tuesday and Thursday, said Noah Petro, director of NASA’s planetary geology, geophysics and geochemistry laboratory at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Full moons are visible in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, as they are considered to be in full moon phase up to 12 hours before and after their peak, according to EarthSky.
For the best view, local weather permitting, Petro suggests finding a clear sky and an unobstructed area away from trees or buildings. The darker the environment, the more you can enjoy the event, he added.
Across Native American nations, the April full moon has many names including “kawohni,” which means flower moon in Cherokee; “kwiyamuyaw,” which means the moon of the wind cover to the Hopi, and “tabehatawi,” which means the moon of the frog to the Assiniboine.
A full pink moon and the start of the April window for Artemis II
The full pink moon also marks the first possible launch date in April for Artemis II, the first human mission to visit the lunar surface in more than 50 years. The four astronauts are set to go further than any human has ever gone into deep space, flying around the moon and beyond its far reaches.
This April launch period runs from April 1 to 6, with a two-hour window each day, according to NASA. On Wednesday, the start window opens 1.28 hours before sunset; the next day, it opens 0.32 hours before sunset; and on the remaining days, it opens slowly later after sunset.
Petro, who also leads the team of planetary scientists said: “If you look at the full moon, the worker may be on his way. The next Artemis mission planned for early 2028 will return humans to the lunar surface. “This will be the last full moon in the era before Artemis II, and it will look different not only for the four crew members but for all of us traveling with them,” Peters added.
Coming meteor showers and full moons
Between full moons and meteor showers, observers have a variety of events to look forward to in April and May.
One of the oldest known meteor showers, the Lyrids, will peak between April 21 and April 22, when sky watchers can see 10 to 20 meteors per hour during their peak, with the best views in the Northern Hemisphere, according to NASA.
From the remnants of Comet Thatcher, this annual shower is best seen far from city lights after sunset and before dawn. With minimal interference from moonlight, enthusiasts can expect to see a beautiful display with clear skies.
The next shower to the top I’m going Visit the Aquariids on May 5-6, when skywatchers can expect to see fewer than 10 meteors per hour due to obstructing moonlight, according to the American Meteor Society. Since Comet Halley, this annual shower is known for the speed of its meteors, which travel about 65 kilometers per second into the Earth’s atmosphere, leaving behind a bright “train”, according to NASA.
May also brings two full moons – one on May 1st and the other on May 31st. Another common use of the term “blue moon” is the second full moon in one calendar month, an event that occurs about every 30 months on average, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
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