Full Pink Moon 2022: when can you see it in the US and what’s the meaning of its name?
The Pink Moon will reach its fullest point this weekend - but, unlike in recent years, it won’t qualify as a Supermoon.
Sky-gazers will be able to enjoy the sight of a full Moon this weekend. The Pink Moon, as the Earth’s satellite is known in April, will appear full for three days, from early on Friday 15th until early on Monday 18th, per NASA.
The Moon will be at its fullest at 2.55pm ET/11:55am PT on Saturday 16 April, the space agency says.
What is a full Moon?
A full Moon occurs when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, meaning that the side of the Moon that we see is fully illuminated by our solar system’s star.
Why is it called the Pink Moon in April?
No, the Moon doesn’t turn pink. The name refers to the colour of herb moss pink, an early springtime flower.
It is one of the Native American names that the Maine Farmers’ Almanac began publishing for each month’s Moon in the 1930s. Traditionally used by Native Americans to keep track of the seasons, they are:
- January: Wolf Moon
- February: Snow Moon
- March: Worm Moon
- April: Pink Moon
- May: Flower Moon
- June: Strawberry Moon
- July: Buck Moon
- August: Sturgeon Moon
- September: Harvest Moon
- October: Hunter’s Moon
- November: Beaver Moon
- December: Cold Moon
Other names for Pink Moon
The Pink Moon also has a number of alternative names, such as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon and the Fish Moon.
In Christianity, this year’s Pink Moon is known as the Paschal Moon. In the Christian ecclesiastical calendar, the name is given to the first full Moon after the spring equinox, on 21 March. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after this date.
NASA notes that this full Moon also marks Hanuman Jayanti - a Hindu festival that commemorates the birth of the god Hanuman - and the Buddhist celebration Bak Poya. A festival chiefly held in Sri Lanka, Bak Poya celebrates Buddha’s second visit to the country, to bring peace between two warring local chiefs.
Not a Supermoon this time - but one is coming up
In 2020 and 2021, April’s Moon qualified for ‘Supermoon’ status. Coined by the astrologer Richard Nolle in the 1970s, the term refers to a new or full Moon that comes to within 90% of perigree, the satellite’s closest position relative to the Earth.
While that’s not the case of April 2022′s full Moon, a Supermoon is coming up in both June and July.
The full Strawberry Supermoon will be at its fullest on 14 June at 7:52am ET, and the full Buck Supermoon will reach its peak on 13 July at 2:38pm ET.