April's full Pink Moon: What to know
(NewsNation) — A lunar phenomenon is set to take place Saturday evening.
April's full moon, known as the Pink Moon, will be a micromoon. Here's what to know about the celestial event.
A full moon happens every month, and the one in April each year is known as a Pink Moon.
The name comes from the Maine Farmers' Almanac, which began publishing Native American names for full moons in the 1930s, according to NASA. It alludes to a spring flower, the creeping phlox, which is an herb moss often pink in color native to the eastern United States.
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Other names for the moon include the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon and the Fish Moon.
The event is religiously significant for Christians, symbolizing the coming of Easter. Also known as the Paschal Moon, it determines the date of Easter, which is celebrated on the first Sunday following the Paschal Moon.
In 2025, Easter falls on Sunday, April 20.
Despite its name, the moon will not appear pink in color. The spectacle will still be unique, however.
The moon will be the smallest full moon of the year, making it a micromoon.
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Peak illumination will be at 8:22 p.m. ET.
The opposite of a supermoon, a micromoon occurs when the moon is at the furthest point from Earth, appearing smaller.
A supermoon, on the other hand, describes a full moon that swings closer to Earth, appearing larger. This happens three to four times a year, and the next is expected to occur in October.
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