April’s Full ‘Pink’ Moon Will Be a Micromoon—Here’s What You Need to Know

This year, our lunar satellite will turn full on Saturday, April 12, at 8:22 p.m. EST to become what is traditionally called the “Full Pink Moon.” And it has associations with seasons, gardening, and holidays. It will also be a micromoon, so next month’s full moon has plenty to chat about.

Why the ‘Pink’ Moon?

You might have noticed signs of spring appearing in your area, as surely did the native American tribes who first gave the Pink Moon its name. Full moons all have names derived from our native and colonial forbears. Disappointingly, “pink” doesn’t refer to the moon’s coloration due to some amazing atmospheric distortion that happens only in April. Rather, it denotes the pink wildflowers, called moss pink or pink phlox, which bloom at that time of year, heralding spring.

Here is a sample of more April moon names, per the Old Farmer’s Almanac, though these hardly scratch the surface:

• Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota)
• Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala)
• Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit)
• Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota)
• Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin)
• Peony Moon (Chinese)

Myriad cultures have given names to the April moon (which includes the entire lunar cycle and not just the full moon). These usually relate to spring—but not always. Religion, historically another huge cultural driver, has also tried its hand at lunar naming.

The Full Moon on or After Equinox

For religious reasons, the upcoming Easter holiday will be dictated by the full moon—but not the full moon we are used to.

It so happens that the ancients decided to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on the first Sunday after the full moon that falls on or after the spring equinox (this year’s equinox being on March 20). And although next April’s qualifies, the full moon they referred to was calculated not based on our methodology, but an archaic one called computus paschalis, or “Easter computation.” In short, this full moon was called the Paschal Moon, but for our needs, the Full Pink Moon is close enough.

Micromoon

For a much more scientific system of classification, modern astronomers noted that full moons always occur when the moon is directly opposite the sun from Earth, which is when they are fullest, and computed the precise moment when this occurs for terrestrial viewers.

Yet the intricacies of astronomy go deeper. Astronomers also found that the moon’s orbit isn’t exactly round, but elliptical, meaning at some points it’s closer to Earth and at others farther away. A micromoon is when it’s near its farthest point (or apogee), making it seem smaller. The opposite, a super moon, is near its closest point to Earth (or perigee), which makes it seem larger. The size difference isn’t trivial either; it may seem 7 percent bigger, though truthfully, the casual observer probably won’t notice the difference.

Spotting the Full Pink Moon

Astronomy can help with spotting the full moon next month, though it’s probably unnecessary. The Full Pink Moon almost always appears in the constellation Virgo, the second largest in our sky, between Libra and Leo the Lion. A keen observer may notice Virgo’s brightest star, Spica, nearby.

Related Stories

Since the moment of peak fullness is but an instant, irrespective of your position on Earth, you might miss that split second of perfect fullness, particularly if it’s daytime where you live. But if you look skyward in the dark hours on the days before or after, it will still appear full.

More Moon Folklore

It may seem like superstition, but some say April full moons bring frost—except when they appear pale, when, according the Old Farmer’s Almanac, it’ll rain instead.