Prepare for the Full Pink Moon!
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.
When to See the Full Moon in April 2024
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! (Find local Moon rise and set times here.)
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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!
Alternative April Moon Names
In April, Moon names reference spring abound!
Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin) and Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable (Dakota) reference the melting ice and increased mobility of the early spring season.
Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit) and Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala) speak to the plant growth that will soon kick into high gear.
Other names refer to the reappearance of certain animals, including Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota), and Frog Moon (Cree).
Along the same vein, Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe) notes the time to harvest sucker fish, which return to streams or lake shallows to spawn. According to legend, now is the time when this fish comes back from the spirit world to purify bodies of water and the creatures living in them. (This name may also be applied to the February Moon to honor the sacrifice of the sucker fish to feed the Anishinaabe peoples, traditionally helping them to survive the winter.)
→ See all 12 months of full Moon names and meanings.
Moon Phases for April 2024
All dates and times are Eastern Time. See our Moon Phase Calendar to customize times and dates to your location.
April Moon Phase Dates and Times
.png){kind=small} | Last Quarter: April 1, 11:15 P.M. ET |
.png){kind=small} | New Moon: April 8, 2:21 P.M. ET |
.png){kind=small} | First Quarter: April 15, 3:13 P.M. ET |
.png){kind=small} | Full Moon: April 23, 7:49 P.M. ET |
→ When is the next full Moon? See our Full Moon calendar.
April Moon Facts and Folklore
A full Moon in April brings frost. If the full Moon rises pale, expect rain.
- On April 20, 1972, the lunar module of Apollo XVI landed on the moon with astronauts John Young and Charles Duke aboard. Thomas Mattingly remained in orbit around the moon aboard the command module.
- One day later, on April 21, 1972, Apollo XVI astronauts John Young and Charles Duke drove an electric car on the surface of the moon. It’s still up there, along with some expensive tools and some film that they forgot.
- According to folklore, the period from the full Moon through the last quarter of the Moon is the best time for killing weeds, thinning, pruning, mowing, cutting timber, and planting below-ground crops. Read more about Gardening by the Moon.
Full Pink Moon Video
Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some interesting and insightful Moon facts. Click below to watch the video.
April Best Days 2024
Below are the Best Days for activities, based on the Moon’s sign and phase in April.
For Planting:
- Aboveground crops: 14, 15
- Belowground crops: 5, 6
For Setting Eggs:
- 2, 20, 21, 30
For Fishing:
- 8-23
→ See Best Days for more activities.
Share your thoughts about this month’s Moon below!
Catherine Boeckmann
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Easter is my favorite holiday, but I have many friends who celebrate Passover. The date of Passover is also dictated by the Full Moon, which in turn leads to the date of Easter, depending upon the month.
This April I will be adopting the Lakota name for the full moon, The Moon When the Ducks Return, as indeed a pair of mallards have shown up in my mom's backyard pond, filled to the brim with our unusually heavy spring rains, along with 11 ducklings. This is the second year ducks have found her yard to be a suitable nursery.
How wonderful! What a lovely gift.
the Native Americans had very interesting names for the different moons. They were usually based on the weather or what was growing at the time. sometimes on what was available for hunting. Read of some in Marie Sandoz' "Crazy Horse."
The moon is a big tortilla
In today's fast-paced world, where demanding schedules and constant stress have become the norm, many individuals struggle
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It was said that the light of this moon is not really pink, it was beautiful glowing bright so I decided to snap some pics and in four or five of them the are where the light is passing through does appear to be pink, and no filters whatsoever were used.... Is the pink perhaps something our eyes cannot pick up? Quite peculiar
Hi Brian, Good question. The amount of pinkness depends more on whether the Moon is near the horizon. In this case, you’ll see more pink/red wavelengths. And if there is ash in the atmosphere, the Moon can go an even deeper shade of pink or orange than normal. So there’s your answer; the Moon’s true color is grey, but appears to us in whatever color the Earth’s atmosphere makes it appear!
I took some great pictures last night .. I was worried we would have cloudy weather on the 7th, so I just had to grab as many as I could for now .. but still looking forward to see if I can get any on this given night.
Great site ! Thank you ;-)
my first time reading this
the article is very informative thank you
