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On Saturday , April 12 , look east at dusk to seethe next full moonrise into the sky : the " Pink Moon " .
April ’s full Sun Myung Moon — the first of spring in the Northern Hemisphere — occurs as Earth get between the sun and moon . Our natural planet will be 100 % illuminate at 8:22 p.m. EDT on April 12 , ascend in the E during gloaming , shine all Nox before setting in the west at dawn . If you miss that consequence , the moon will also appear undimmed and full on Friday and Sunday .
April’s full moon will shine close to Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo.
Although you may think it ’s hunky-dory to just search at any phase of the moonlight at any time of dark , a full moon is too bright once it ’s high in the sky to observe well . By far the skilful clip to see it is as it rises or sets — the former being by far the more practical clock time unless you ’re an early dame .
When the moonshine is low on the skyline and viewed during crepuscle — just after the Lord’s Day has set — it sputter through the thickest part of Earth ’s standard pressure . As with a sunset , that give the moon a muted orangey colour ( rather than the barren , promising whitened gloss when it ’s high up)because Earth ’s atmosphere sprinkle unretentive - wavelength gloomy visible radiation while allowing foresightful - wavelength reddish light to shine through .
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The full moon can even calculate pinkish for a short time , depending on the ambience , but that ’s not why April ’s full lunation is called the " Pink Moon . " That name actually comes from the spring blossom of a wild flower calledPhlox subulata ( or " moss pink " ) , which is native to eastern North America , according toAlmanac .
This full moon is also cognise as the Paschal Moon and is used to determine the date of Easter ( Paschain Latin ) each year . In 2025 , Easter falls on Sunday , April 20 .
The Pink ‘micromoon’ rises with Spica
Every full lunar month is unlike , but what do this calendar month ’s special is the bearing of the bright superstar Spica nearby .
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precisely where it will come out in relation to the moon look on where you stand on Earth . From North America , Spica — the bright star in the constellation Virgo — will be to the left / upper - left of the moon . However , from almost all of South America , the moonlight will occult Spica , according toIn The Sky . From Europe , Spica will appear on the lower left , but since the Sun Myung Moon will already be in the sky at dusk , it will be best run across on Sunday , April 13 . Always check amoonrise calculatorfor the exact times for your localisation .
The " Pink Moon " will be comparatively modest in the sky . Unlike a " supermoon , " which occur when the full phase coincide with when the satellite is close to Earth on its slightly elliptical orbital path , the contrary will happen on April 12 . As it uprise , the Pink Moon will be just a yoke of 60 minutes past itsapogee — its farthest point from Earth .
The follow full moon will be the " Flower Moon " on May 12 , 2025 .
Moon quiz: What do you know about our nearest celestial neighbor?
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