Pink Moon Will Be Visible During Lyrid Meteor Shower; Here's the Best Time to Watch It

Pink Moon Will Be Visible During Lyrid Meteor Shower; Here's the Best Time to Watch It
(Photo : Wikimedia Commons/Amedee Guillemin)

The Lyrid meteor shower peaks this week, and if you love stargazing, there's another reason to watch - the Pink moon will reportedly show up.

Pink Moon To Show Up During the Lyrid Meteor Shower

There are a lot of treats for skywatchers this year. Following the total solar eclipse, the Lyrids have arrived to brighten up the night sky. Additionally, the pink moon will be visible from Monday to Wednesday (April 22 to 24). It will peak in its full phase on April 23 at 7:49 p.m. Eastern Time. The full moon fell on the same day as the Lyric Meteor Shower's peak on Monday (April 22).

The Pink Moon is named after the hue of springtime blooming flowers. The moon is also known as the Egg Moon, Awakening Moon, Breaking Ice Moon, and Budding Moon.

According to Farmers' Almanac, there are numerous Native American names for the full moon in April, such as the Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala), Sprouting Grass Moon (Tlingit), Moon of Blackberry (Choctaw), Flower Moon (Cherokee), and Moon of the Big Leaves (Apache).

Since it falls on the first day of the Jewish holiday of Passover, the pink moon is also referred to as the Passover Moon in Judaism. Because it falls around Easter, April's full moon is also known as the Paschal Moon.

Despite its name, this month's full moon will not be especially pink; rather, it will resemble any other full moon. However, at twilight, the Pink Moon may appear orange. This is because you are seeing it through the densest portion of the atmosphere, which is made up of light-absorbing and light-scattering particles.

Shorter light wavelengths are more likely to be scattered by these air particles than longer ones. Shorter wavelengths of light, like blue, are scattered by the atmosphere, whereas longer wavelengths, like orange and red, tend to pass through.

ALSO READ: When's the Best Time to Watch the Lyrids Meteor Shower That Will Peak This Weekend?

What To Expect in the Lyrid Meteor Shower?

The moon's phase has a big impact on how the Lyrids may be seen -- lower moonlight means darker skies and better visibility. Unfortunately, on Tuesday (April 23) at approximately 23:49 UTC, the full moon will be very brilliant in the sky during its zenith. As a result, the best time to watch for the meteor shower is hours after the moon sets and before dawn breaks. The Lyrid meteor shower peaked on Sunday (April 21) and Monday (April 22) at 9:23 UTC.

Since the meteor will peak when the moon is brilliant, you won't see as many. However, the Lyrids are renowned for their unusual surges, which can occasionally result in rates as high as 100 per hour!

The meteor shower started on April 15 and would last until April 29. NASA recommends facing east and selecting a spot away from the street and urban lights for the best view.