When and where to see April’s Pink Moon

Astronomy fans can watch the Pink Moon this month as April’s full moon rises.

April’s full moon will reach maximum illumination on Tuesday at 7:49 PM EDT, but it will appear full Monday morning through Thursday morning, according to NASA. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists specific moonrise times for various zip codes in the US

Why is April’s full moon known as the Pink Moon?

Full moon names often stem from seasons, historical crops and the behavior of certain animals. The nickname “Pink Moon” unfortunately has nothing to do with the color of the moon, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Instead, it is related to the early spring blooms of certain wildflowers, including one native to eastern North America and often called “moss pink.”

April’s full moon also goes by several other names, including Breaking Ice Moon, Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable, Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs, and Moon of the Red Grass Appearing. It also has several names related to animals, including Moon When the Ducks Come Back, Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs, Frog Moon, and Sucker Moon.

NASA notes that it is also the Passover or Passover moon; the Jewish holiday starts on Monday evening this year. This full moon also corresponds to the Hanuman Jayanti festival on the Hindu lunisolar calendar in most regions, according to the space agency.

Look up: what else can you see in the sky this spring?

The Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak between April 21 and 22.

The Eta Aquariids meteor shower is estimated to reach its peak from Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 May. And May’s full moon, the Flower Moon, reaches its peak on May 23.