24/04/2024

Pink Moon 2024

Pink Moon appears in S'pore sky on Apr. 24, not pink but still pretty

If you happened to look up at the sky on Apr. 24 night, you might have noticed the moon looking bigger and brighter somehow.

This was April's full moon — the Pink Moon — which, despite it's name, is not pink. Full moons typically get their names from Native American tribes, who charted time based on the moon.

This particular supermoon is named after a pink flower, the ground phlox, which blooms in April, one of the earliest spring blooms native to the eastern United States.


Pink Moon: Full Moon for April 2024

You can see the full Moon in April on Tuesday, April 23. It reaches its brightest point at 7:49 P.M. Learn why we traditionally call it the “Pink Moon” and some fascinating facts and folklore.

Venture outside on Tuesday, April 23, to catch a glimpse of April’s full Pink Moon. This full Moon reaches peak illumination at 7:49 p.m. Eastern Time. For the best view of this lovely spring Moon, find an open area and watch as the Moon rises just above the horizon. At this point, it will appear its biggest and take on a golden hue!

Why Is It Called the Pink Moon? The full Moon names used by The Old Farmer’s Almanac come from various sources, including Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. Traditionally, each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred, not only to the full Moon. Although we wish the name “Pink Moon” had to do with the color of the Moon, the reality is not quite as mystical or awe-inspiring. In truth, April’s full Moon often corresponded with the early springtime blooms of a certain wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata—commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox—which also went by the name “moss pink.”  Thanks to this seasonal association, this full Moon came to be called the “Pink” Moon!


The next full Moon is the Pink Moon, Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Fish Moon, the Pesach or Passover Moon

The next full Moon will be Tuesday evening, April 23, 2024, appearing opposite the Sun (in Earth-based longitude) at 7:49 PM EDT. This will be on Wednesday from the time zones of the UK, Ireland, and Portugal eastward across Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia to the International Date Line in the mid-Pacific. The Moon will appear full for about 3 days around this time, from Monday morning to Thursday morning.

The Maine Farmers' Almanac began publishing "Indian" names for full Moons in the 1930s and these names are now widely known and used. According to this almanac, as the full Moon in April the tribes of the northeastern United States called this the Pink Moon, named after the herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox, or mountain phlox, a plant native to the eastern USA that is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring. Other names for this Moon include the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and among coastal tribes the Fish Moon, as this was when the shad swam upstream to spawn. This is the Pesach or Passover Moon. In the Hebrew calendar this full Moon is in the middle of Nisan, with Pesach or Passover beginning on the 15th day of Nisan. Pesach or Passover begins at sundown on Monday, April 22, and ends at nightfall on April 30, 2024. The Seder feasts are on the first two evenings of Passover. 

There are a number of variations of the Hindu lunisolar calendar, but for most regions this full Moon corresponds with the Hanuman Jayanti festival, the celebration of the birth of Lord Hanuman. For Buddhists, especially in Sri Lanka, this full Moon is Bak Poya, commemorating when the Buddha visited Sri Lanka and settled a dispute between chiefs, avoiding a war. This full Moon is near the middle of Shawwāl, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar and the middle of the third month of the Chinese year of the Dragon.


2024 Pink Moon: What to expect and why it's not actually pink?

April's Full Moon, commonly known as the “Pink Moon”, coincides with the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower this year, potentially overshadowing the annual display of shooting stars. The Moon will appear full for approximately three days, from Monday to Thursday morning.

The timing of the Full Moon varies depending on one's time zone. In India, the Moon's brightness will reach its maximum on Wednesday, April 24, at 5.18 am (IST), according to Time and Date. Meanwhile, in the eastern United States, it will occur during the evening hours of April 23, at 7.49 pm (Eastern Daylight Time).

The name “Pink Moon” for the Full Moon in April originates from the pink wildflowers that bloom in early spring. This association is mentioned in the Maine Farmers' Almanac, an annual American periodical. Additionally, the April Full Moon is known by various other names, such as the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and Fish Moon among coastal tribes, signifying shad spawning as they swim upstream.


Pink Moon 2024: What is it? And why you might not see what you expect

The pink moon will rise in the sky tonight – but it is not what its name suggests. The moon itself is not pink. While it can sometimes take on an unusual hue – such as pink, red, or orange – the “pink moon” does not refer to such a phenomenon.

Instead, the pink moon is simply the name for April’s full moon. It is the name that comes from The Old Farmer’s Almanac and takes its name from the fact that it would arrive alongside the blooms of the plant known as Phlox subulata. That wildflower, usually known as moss phlox or creeping phlox, comes out in a bright pink. As such, that colour became associated with the Moon. In other cultures, it is also given the names “the sprouting grass moon, the egg moon, and the fish moon”, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich.

The other full moons of the year have their own names – the “worm” comes before the pink, for instance, and the “flower” comes after it. Those names are often described as being traditional, and are taking from the Almanac that often cited colonial or Native American sources, but have become particularly popular recently. The fact that the “pink moon” is really just the Moon means that it is, however, easy to see the Moon. You simply need to step outside and look up. It is often best to see the Moon when it rises above the horizon, since that allows it to appear more dramatic and often larger in comparison with the buildings and trees that might be in front of it.



See The Full ‘Pink Moon’ Bloom Around The World
The full moon, which is known as the 'Pink Moon' during April, sets sets behind The Balmoral Clock

Did you see the full "Pink Moon?" The second full moon of spring 2024 in the northern hemisphere rose last night and was photographed around the globe, appearing in the east in a dramatic blaze of color.

Here is a selection of the best and most impressive images of the full "Pink Moon" from the U.S. as well as France, the U.K. and India. The "Pink Moon" is named not for its own color but for the color of spring flowers that bloom at this time of year. It was best seen at dusk on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. As with all full moons, the "Pink Moon" was visible all night, rising in the east at sunset and setting in the west at sunrise.

The name "Pink Moon" is thought to originate from Native American tribes. Other names include "Sprouting Grass Moon," "Growing Moon," "Fish Moon," "Hare Moon," and "Egg Moon." For a brief period of 15-20 minutes, the "Pink Moon" appeared to be orange. This phenomenon happens because the viewer is seeing it through the thickest layer of Earth's atmosphere.


Pink Moon Mesmerises Stargazers Across The World

A celestial phenomenon captivated the hearts of stargazers worldwide on April 23 – the Pink Moon. From amateur astronomers to seasoned sky watchers, social media buzzed with awe-inspiring images of this celestial marvel. But why is it called the Pink Moon?

According to NASA, the Maine Farmers' Almanac bestowed native American names upon full Moons, offering a glimpse into the cultures of the indigenous tribes. The Pink Moon derives its name from the herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox. This plant signalled the arrival of spring in the northeastern United States.

The full Moon, NASA says, will be visible for three days from Tuesday morning to Friday morning. So if the weather is perfect, you can watch it for the next couple of nights.


Pink Moon 2024: Its date, folklore and significance

The Pink Moon, also known as the April Full Moon, will take place on Tuesday, April 23 in 2024 around 07:49 EDT or 23: 49 UTC. This is the first full moon that marks the welcome of the beautiful Spring season in April 2023.

Unfortunately, as opposed to what most people think, the Pink Moon is actually just a normal full moon observed in April. It might show a different color depending on the reflection of the sunlight. The name Pink Moon was first used in the Maine Farmer's Almanac, a yearly American Periodical. It published a list of all the Native American names of the moon phases every month. Pink Moon was used to refer to the full moon in April.

Why is it called the Pink Moon? The word 'Pink Moon' comes from the herb pink moss or Phlox Subulata - a wildflower which blooms during the early springtime. These flowers usually grow in the North American region. Thus, the name Pink Moon associates with Springtime.


Pink Moon - The Largest Supermoon of 2020
A super 'pink moon' will light up the Singapore sky

Get your telescopes out – the Singapore sky is about to be streaked with glowy orange hues (perfect for that golden hour selfie) as a full pink moon emerges through the clouds around Wednesday morning at 10.35am. The moon isn't exactly bathed in the rosy shade but its position in the sky gives it a pinkish tint. This marks the third supermoon this year and it's set to be the biggest and brightest one as the perigee – the moon's elliptical orbit – comes closest to the earth, especially during sunrise and sunset.

What makes the moon super? While it doesn't bring any special powers like giving us clear skin, it appears 14% bigger and 30% brighter than the average moon. It also has made appearances in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005. While it's hypnotically beautiful to stare at, it has a bad rep amongst the superstitious – it's often associated with natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes.

The full moon will peak during around 10.35am on April 8, while stargazers in the US will experience it in the late hours of Tuesday and Europe in the early hours of Wednesday. The supermoon usually lasts for only 20 minutes, so try your best to not blink an eye as you'll have to wait until the moonset time or until May 7 for the final supermoon.