The annual April “pink moon” is set to rise this weekend — and this year, it’s going to be a micromoon.
The pink moon will reach peal illumination at 8:22 p.m. EDT Saturday in the United States, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.
April’s full moon will rise when its at its farthest point from Earth, about 251,000 miles away, according to NASA, USA Today reported.
Saturday’s full moon will appear up to 14% smaller and 30% dimmer than a supermoon.
It’s called a pink moon because some Eastern Native American tribes call April’s full moon the “pink moon” due to its connection with early spring wildflowers, ABC News reported, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
For the best view, people should head to an open area and watch as it rises above the horizon, the Almanac said, as it will appear larger than usual and have a golden hue.
The Maine Farmers’ Almanac attributes the name to herb moss pink, a native Eastern U.S. plant that blooms in early spring, ABC News said.
Other names for the pink moon have included the sprouting grass moon, the egg moon and, among coastal tribes, the fish moon — signifying the time when shad, a fish found along the Atlantic Coast, begin to spawn, according to NASA.
Other tribes named the April full moon after seasonal changes, ABC News said, referring to it as the “breaking ice moon” or the “moon when the ducks come back,” reflecting key signs of spring.
