Following April’s somewhat lackluster solar eclipse, the heavens have more celestial marvels in store for us this week. Beginning on Tuesday, April 23, the radiant spectacle of a full pink moon will grace the skies of Texas!
The Full Pink Moon
Contrary to its misleading name, the full moon of April doesn’t typically exhibit a pink hue, except under exceedingly uncommon atmospheric circumstances. Its name, “pink moon,” originates from early Native American cultures, who dubbed it so due to its correlation with the blooming of ground phlox, also known as moss pink, one of the earliest spring flowers.
Nevertheless, despite its lack of pink coloration, the full pink moon promises to offer a mesmerizing sight with its golden glow near the horizon, transitioning to a brilliant white radiance.
The peak illumination of the full pink moon is expected at 6:49 pm CDT on Tuesday, April 23, and it will maintain its full appearance until Thursday morning.
How to see the Pink Moon
For optimal viewing of stunning lunar displays and celestial phenomena, it’s recommended to seek out locales with minimal light pollution. While that might be a bit difficult inside city’s urban areas, you can seek out the best places in Houston to watch the sunset.
Other visible planets
For those who prefer staying up late or waking up extremely early, there are additional celestial events to behold in the predawn hours of April 24, or more accurately, the small hours of April 24. As reported by Space.com, both Saturn and Mars will grace the night sky with their presence. Saturn is projected to rise at 3:32 am, followed by Mars at 3:57 am.
Coming celestial phenomena
In the current year, the United States will witness four occurrences of supermoons. Following the upcoming Blue Moon on August 19, there won’t be another until 2027. Subsequent supermoons will illuminate the skies on September 18, October 17, and November 15. The nearest supermoon this year will be the Super Hunter’s Moon on October 17.