April’s very own “Pink Moon” — otherwise referred to as the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon or even Fish Moon — will appear in the sky this Monday, April 26.
The full moon — the second of four supermoons to happen in 2021 — will be visible after sunset and will reach peak illumination around 11:32 p.m. EDT, according to NASA. The first supermoon happened on March 26, and the final two will occur in May and June.
“The term ‘supermoon’ was coined by astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979 and refers to either a new or full Moon that occurs when the Moon is within 90% of perigee, its closest approach to Earth,” says NASA. “Since we can’t see a new Moon (except when it passes in front of the Sun), what has caught the public’s attention in recent decades are full supermoons, as these are the biggest and brightest full Moons for the year.”
Despite its name, the Pink Moon will shine with a more golden hue above the horizon and turn white as it passes over the sky.
So why the name? The moniker comes from the herb “moss pink,” also known as creeping phlox, moss phlox or mountain phlox, which one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring in the Eastern United States, according to the The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Dean Regas, astronomer with the Cincinnati Observatory, told Space.com that terms like “supermoon” could “create a perception of ‘false events’ among the public.” But the term is also a way to bring people together.
“It’s a great way to get the public interested,” Regas said. “It’s something that they can relate to and they can go out and actually see.”
The supermoon on May 26, 2021 will be the closest to Earth — but not by much. It will only be closer than the April supermoon by 0.04%.
This article appears in Apr 1-30, 2021.