Pink moon april 2024: what is the reason for the colored moon in the sky?
The pink moon is not actually related to the apparent colour of the Earth’s satellite but rather the time of year this full moon appears.
The April full moon in 2024 will occur on Tuesday, 23 April. Due to its location in the calendar, it is an important time in many cultures and adopting many names. In the United States, it is known as the “pink moon.”
While the moon itself doesn’t change color, there are instances where it might appear pinkish to our eyes. During a lunar eclipse, when the Earth casts a shadow on the moon, the light filtering through our atmosphere can sometimes give the moon a reddish or pinkish tinge. This is because shorter blue wavelengths of light are scattered more easily, leaving the reddish hues to dominate the view.
While there is no eclipse taking place, the pink moon’s name is derived from folklore.
The reason for the pink moon name
Folklore surrounding the names of full moons often originates from indigenous cultures. The names given to full moons reflect the natural rhythms of the environment and the activities or observations of indigenous peoples during each lunar cycle.
The origins of the Pink Moon back to the Algonquin tribes of eastern North America. These indigenous people observed the natural world closely, and their lunar names often reflected seasonal changes.
April’s #fullmoon is called the ‘Pink Moon’ and rises on the night of 23rd April 2024. Native Americans gave it this name because it coincides with the blooming of Phlox subulata, which bursts into flower around this time. It is also known as the ‘Budding Moon’. #nature #folklore pic.twitter.com/cEI0XOYbL8
— VenetiaJane's Garden (@VenetiaJane) April 22, 2024
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The “Pink Moon” name likely arose due to the vibrant blooms of a particular wildflower – the creeping phlox (also known as moss pink or phlox subulata). This delightful ground cover bursts into a beautiful display of pink flowers in early spring, roughly coinciding with the April full moon.
The April full moon in other cultures
The Royal Museum of Greenwich has noted that other cultures call this full moon different names such as the: Egg Moon, Sprouting Grass Moon, and the Fish Moon. These are all related to April’s position in the calendar as the beginning of Spring.