How to see April’s ‘pink moon’ in the UK this week

Every moon in the lunar calendar has a name. Some are pretty and allusive, like the ‘strawberry moon’ in June – a good time to harvest strawbs – and others are more prosaic, like December’s ‘cold moon’, because it’s cold at that time of year (in the northern hemisphere, at least).

This month’s name is the ‘pink moon’ and it will be the first full moon of spring in the northern hemisphere. Here’s everything you need to know.

Why’s it called a pink moon and what does it mean?

Although April’s full moon is called the ‘pink moon’, it doesn’t actually relate to the colour of the moon. ‘Pink’ refers to the pink blossoms that emerge during the spring. The moon is believed to have been named after a species of early blooming wildflower by Native Americans.

What’s the best time to see the full moon?

The pink moon will reach peak illumination at 5.34am on Thursday, April 6, according to Greenwich’s Royal Observatory.

How can I see April’s pink full moon from the UK this week?

Although the moon will be at its brightest early Thursday morning, you don’t have to worry about getting up super early to see it because it will visible from the evening of Tuesday, March 4 until Friday, March 7, according to Nasa.

When is the next full moon in the UK?

After this month’s ‘pink moon’, the next full moon in the lunar cycle will be on Thursday, May 5. It’s called the ‘flower moon’ and represents all the flowers that appear in spring. The ‘flower moon’ will also be a lunar eclipse.

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