Pink moon set to illuminate skies, how to watch, timing, all you need to know

Pink Easter Moon will be the fourth full moon of the year for the sky watchers. The moon will appear larger than average because it will be three days past perigee, the point in its orbit when it is nearest to Earth, according to Space.com. Every month’s full moon has a nickname that can often be traced back hundreds of years to the Native Americans or early Colonials from Europe. The pink moon will not actually appear pink. However, the moon can sometimes appear yellow, orange or even red depending on atmospheric conditions.

Why is it called Pink moon?

The moon is named pink after the colour of wild ground phlox, one of the early spring flowers. Native Americans named the moons so they could keep track of their harvesting schedule.

“April’s full Moon is called the Full Pink Moon, heralding the appearance of the 'moss pink,' or wild ground phlox—one of the first spring flowers,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac reported. 

When to watch Pink moon?

The Pink Easter Moon will occur at 4:12 a.m. PDT and 7:12 a.m. EDT in the morning. The moon will appear closer there and will also have less glare making it easier to look at. The moon will start out a bold orange gradually fading to a milky white colour as it rises.