It’s time to recharge your crystals and get out your sage because there’s yet another astrological phenomenon looming in your future. No, we aren’t talking about Mercury in retrograde. As it turns out, the beginning of spring marks the arrival of the April “pink moon.” And while—spoiler alert—it won’t actually be pink, it is the first supermoon of the year. Here’s everything to know.
There’s Going to Be a Pink Full Supermoon on April 26—Here’s What It Means (& How to See It)
Published Apr 23, 2021
•6:21pm
First off, what exactly is a pink moon?
Nope, we aren’t talking about a 1970s folk album. A pink moon is just the name for the full moon that happens in April, and similar to January’s wolf moon or the 2020 blue moon, its moniker comes from a combination of folklore, Native American and European traditions. And according to NASA, it’s also been called the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon and the Fish Moon.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the pink moon is named after the wild ground phlox or pink moss—spring’s earliest flowers to bloom. Despite what the name suggests, you probably won’t see the moon illuminate a bright rosy hue, but since it’s a supermoon, it still promises a spectacular view. (Astronomy lesson: A supermoon is a full moon that appears larger and brighter than usual because it’s orbiting closer to Earth.) Your view depends on your location and the amount of pollution or cloud cover in the area.
How can you see this pink full supermoon?
The moon will reach its peak fullness at around 11:33 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, April 26, but since it will appear full from Sunday evening through Wednesday morning, you’ll have ample viewing time. But if you miss this supermoon, the next will occur in May (and its orbit will be even closer to Earth).
We’ll take our (full) pink supermoon with a (full) glass of pink wine, please.
