Skygazers are excited as the area is about to witness the upcoming April full pink moon.
Easter is observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon that occurs after the spring equinox.
The full moon in April has an important additional role, as it is key in setting the dates for Easter and Passover.
Moreover, the lunar event highlights how the Jewish calendar also relies on lunar cycles, with the new moon marking the start of a month and the full moon falling at the midpoint.
While the astronomical equinox fluctuates between March 20 and 21, the Christian Church uses a fixed date of March 21 for its calculations.
Additionally, historical use of different calendars means Easter dates can still vary globally, particularly for Orthodox festivals.
According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, April's Pink Moon is also known as the 'Paschal Moon.'
Why April moon is named as 'Pink Moon'?
While it offers a beautiful night sky event in April, in truth it is not likely to be very pink at all.
The name, like so many others for full moons, stems back to a time when people called them after seasonal moments in nature to keep track of passing months.
The Pink Moon is an ancient name used to track seasons.
Other spring moon names include the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon, and the Breaking Ice Moon, all signaling the arrival of spring.
However, the full "pink" moon, unless affected by unforeseen atmospheric phenomena such as wildfire smoke, won't actually appear pink to our eyes.
The interesting thing is that rising on the evening of April 1, the moon will likely appear orange rather than pink.
This occurs because sunlight must pass through a denser part of the Earth’s atmosphere, which scatters blue and violet light and leaves only red hues.
How to catch an enchanting glimpse of April's Pink Moon:
April's full moon will appear on the evening of April 2 in the USA, and, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it will last till Thursday morning
The clearest skies for viewing the moon in the UK are predicted for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The sky lovers can enjoy the enchanting views of the upcoming April full Pink Moon, set to reach its peak in the UK on Thursday, 2 April.
A cold front is also expected to bring cloud and rain across England and Wales on Wednesday night.
Notably, the best time to view the Pink Moon will vary depending on your location, time zone, and local weather conditions.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon will occur on May 1 and is known as the Flower Moon.
There will actually be two full moons in May, a phenomenon commonly known as a "blue moon."
