It’ll be hard to follow April’s breathtaking solar eclipse, but the skies have plans for more stellar phenomenon this week. Starting Tuesday, April 23, 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.
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 6:49 pm CDT on Tuesday, April 23, and will appear full until Thursday morning.
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. However, to assist you in your quest, utilize this light pollution map as your beacon.
Other visible planets
Night owls (or early early birds) will also be able to catch a few other celestial phenomena in the pre-dawn hours of April 24 – or rather the wee hours of April 24. According to Space.com, Saturn and Mars will also be making appearances in the night sky. At 3:32 am, Saturn is expected to rise followed by Mars at 3:57 am.
Coming celestial phenomena
This year the United States will see four supermoons. The next will be the Blue Moon on August 19, which won’t happen again until 2027. Supermoons will also grace the skies on September 18, October 17, and November 15. The closest this year will be the Super Hunter’s Moon on October 17.