The skies have plans for more stellar phenomenon this week. Starting Saturday, April 12, a full pink moon will take over Texas skies!
The “Pink Moon”
Despite what the name will have you think, April’s full moon isn’t actually pink – barring the off chance of rare atmospheric conditions. The pink moon traces its name back to early Native American tribes who called it such because it marked the appearance of the ground phlox (or moss pink) – one of the first spring flowers.
Other names for the April moon include: Breaking Ice Moon, Sucker Moon, and Frog Moon.
That said, the full pink moon will nonetheless create a captivating phenomenon with its golden hue along the horizon followed by a bright white glow.
The full pink moon will reach peak illumination at 7:22 pm CDT on Saturday, April 12, and will appear full until Thursday morning.
What is a Micromoon?
This full Moon is considered a “micromoon” because it occurs near the Moon’s apogee, the farthest point in its orbit from Earth. As a result, it will look a bit smaller and dimmer than a usual full Moon.
How to see the Pink Moon
To catch the most breathtaking sights of moons and other celestial wonders, it’s advised to seek out locations with minimal light pollution. If you reside in an urban area, locating areas with dark skies can pose a challenge but the greater distance you are away from the city the better.
As far as the Dallas forecast goes, so far signs point to clear skies this Saturday, making stargazing conditions optimal!
For other celestial events this month, the Lyrid meteor shower will peak between April 21 and April 22 with favorable conditions expected.