Americans Gear Up To Witness April's Full 'Pink Moon' This Weekend – But It Won't Really Be Pink

As the chilly winter makes way for the vibrant spring, space lovers all around the United States cannot wait to experience the celestial spectacle all set to light up the sky this weekend. With longer evenings and calmer nights, April is the ideal month for stargazing, and this Saturday, Mother Nature is bestowing us with a full moon event that's famous all over the world for several traditions and visual charm. Be it a casual observer or an expert stargazer, there is plenty room for excitement surrounding what is commonly known as the first full moon of spring, stated The Independent.

Intriguingly, this weekend’s lunar event, the Pink Moon, will reach its full glory at 8:22 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 12. Despite its alluring name, don’t be misled—sadly it won’t actually appear pink. The Pink Moon got its name from the early-blooming pink phlox flowers. These colorful, vibrant wildflowers, native to the eastern U.S., are among the first to bloom as winter ends, symbolizing the rebirth of nature. Over generations, this seasonal connection spikes the moon’s stellar title. Adding to its mystique, this month’s full moon is also classified as a micro moon—meaning it will appear smaller and dimmer than your basic full moon, stated Live Science.

This particular situation occurs because the moon is reaching apogee (apogee is the farthest point from Earth in its elliptical orbit). Meteorologist Ian Livingston remarked, "It is the second and most distant such event of three consecutive events from March through May this year," stated The Independent. Unlike the impeccable supermoons that are the talk of the town, this one may seem more subtle and lowkey, but hold on, that does not make it any less special. In fact, this specific moon carries the utmost cultural and religious importance.

Since it falls after the spring equinox, it’s referred to as the Paschal Moon in Christianity—the moon used to determine the date of Ester, which lands on Sunday, April 20 this year. It also overlaps with Passover in Judaism, earning it the title Pesach Moon. Moreover, citing Maine Farmers’ 'Alamanc,' NASA shared, "Other names for this moon include the sprouting grass moon, the egg moon, and among coastal tribes the fish moon, as this was when the shad swam upstream to spawn," via The Independent.

The visibility you must wonder? The visibility completely depends on the weather. Current forecasts assure clear skies in the South, Southeast, and parts of the Western U.S., while the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic may face cloudy weather. For the best top-notch view, head to a location far away from the city light, ideally elevated and unbothered. It is advised to look just above the eastern horizon at the right time to take in the beauty of this faintly pink moon for a fleeting moment. As if this was not enough, there is a bonus for keen-eyed observers—the bright star Spica, in the constellation Virgo, will be visible near the moon. Depending on your location, this unique Spica will appear to the left or above the moon, via Live Science.