Full Pink Moon: How, When To See the Famous Night Sky Event This Easter Week

The "Pink Moon" is on the rise, and you'll see it this week. Continue reading to see the highlight of this week's night sky.

Night Sky Event This Easter Week

There will be a full moon this week. The famous "Pink Moon" will grace the night sky this week, and if you are into sky-gazing, here's what you should expect, according to Forbes.

Monday and Tuesday (April 3 and 4): Afternoon Moon

You don't always have to wait until it gets dark to go moon-gazing. As the Moon approaches its full phase each month, it's visible in the southeastern and eastern sky some hours before sunset. So it's a great idea to point a small telescope or a pair of binoculars at our natural satellite. The closer it is to sunset, the brighter the Moon will appear.

Thursday (April 6): Full 'Pink Moon' Rises

Today, the entire phase of our natural satellite in orbit has been reached. The ideal time to see the first full Moon of spring in the northern hemisphere tonight is at the moonrise as it will be visible on the eastern horizon.

While it is a subdued orange color close to the horizon, use binoculars to identify its big craters and ancient oceans of lava. It won't be possible to gaze at it closely once it has risen higher in the sky.

Friday (April 7): Moon and Spica

Tonight is a good night to look for Spica using the now 92%-lit waning gibbous Moon, 3° away, as your guide. Look southeast about an hour after sunset, though it's a rising sight so visible for the rest of the night.

Virgo Constellation

The constellation of Virgo can be seen in the east after sunset from late November to early May. It is easiest to locate in a really dark, moonless night sky. Yet, even in the light-polluted night sky, you may locate it roughly by looking for Spica, the constellation's brightest star.

Simply follow the Big Dipper's handle in a semicircle, "arc to Arcturus, spike to Spica." The 250-light-year-distance star Spica is one of the 20 brightest stars in the night sky.

What Is a Pink Moon?

April's full moon is also known as the "Pink Moon." This year's Pink Moon is also the first full moon of spring. It will peak illumination around 12: 35 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday (April 6), CBS News reported.

Although it is called Pink Moon, it doesn't look pink. Instead, it got its name from the early springtime bloom of a wildflower called moss pink, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.

April's full moon is also called "Pesach," "Paschal," or "Passover Moon" due to its proximity to Passover, which stars Wednesday night and Easter on Sunday, April 9.

Aside from the aforementioned, April's moon is also called the "Sprouting Grass Moon," the "Egg Moon," and the "Fish Moon."

Pink Moon was preceded by "Worm Moon" and will be followed by the full "Flower Moon."

Check out more news and information on Moon Mission in Science Times.