Why is April's full moon called the 'Pink Moon?' What to know about the full moon
In March, it was a blood moon, and in April, people will get to see a pink moon.
This month, the full moon happen when the moon is at its farthest point from Earth, according to the Farmer's Almanac. The phenomenon is called a "micromoon."
The opposite of a supermoon, this phenomenon will cause the moon to appear a bit smaller in the sky.
But why is it called a pink moon?
Here's what to know.
In Hyannis, it will peak on April, 12, 2025 at 8:22 p.m.
The moon doesn't actually appear pink.
The Farmer's Almanac states that the name is derived from the early spring bloom of a North American wildflower called "Phlox subulata," commonly known moss phlox.
"This flower, often called 'moss pink,' was in full bloom around April's full moon," the Farmer's Almanac said.
The Farmer's Almanac stated that the names for different full moons come from Native American, Colonial American, and European traditions.
The Almanac states that some other Native American names for the pink moon include:
The Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin) and Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable (Dakota) reference the melting ice and the increased mobility of early spring.
The Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit) and Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala) highlight the plant growth about to take off.
Other names focus on the return of certain animals, like the Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota), and Frog Moon (Cree).
The Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe) marks the time to harvest sucker fish, which return to streams or shallow lakes to spawn.
The following are the Native American names - and dates - for other full moons in the coming year, according to the Farmer's Almanac:
Flower Moon: May 12, 2025
Strawberry Moon: June 11, 2025
Buck Moon: July 10, 2025
Sturgeon Moon: Aug. 9, 2025
Corn Moon: Sept. 7, 2025
Harvest Moon: Oct. 6, 2025
Beaver Moon: Nov. 5, 2025
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: What is a 'pink' moon? When to look for April's full moon
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