April full moon
When to observe in 2023: On the evening of April 5 into the morning of April 6.
The place to look: Search for the intense spherical moon within the east within the night, overhead round midnight, west earlier than dawn.
Crest of the full moon falls at 4:34 UTC on April 6, 2023. That’s 11:34 p.m. CDT on April 5 in central North America.
Observe: The April 5-6 full moon is close to the star Spica within the constellation Virgo the Maiden.
All full moons rise within the east close to sundown and set within the west close to dawn. They’re seen all evening. At full moon, the sun, Earth, and moon align in space, with Earth within the center. The moon’s day facet – its absolutely lighted hemisphere – faces us. That’s why the moon seems to be full. Observe that the moon will look full and spherical for a day or two round full moon. And notice that the moon rises, on common, about 50 minutes later every day. Meaning, the evening after full moon, you gained’t see the moon rise till the sky is absolutely darkish.
April’s full moon is the Pink MoonThat is such a ravishing time of 12 months, particularly when the full moon rises! April’s full moon has the nickname of the Pink Moon, due to all of the blooming flowers and timber, such because the pink creeping phlox (Phlox subulata).
The second of full moon – when the moon reaches that time in its orbit straight reverse the sun in sky – is April 6 at 4:34 UTC or 11:34 p.m. CDT on April 5. Nevertheless, “full moon” is taken into account any time 12 hours earlier than or after that.
Read: Full moon names by month and by season
The full moon of April can also be known as the Paschal Moon if it happens earlier than Easter, which occurs this 12 months. (If it happens after Easter, as it is going to subsequent 12 months, it’s only known as the Pink Moon.) As a normal rule, Easter is pinned on the primary Sunday after the full moon that happens after the vernal equinox. This 12 months the equinox fell on March 20, and the next full moon falls on April 6, which is a Thursday. Due to this fact, the subsequent Sunday is three days later, making Easter April 9.
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Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere view
For Northern Hemisphere moon watchers, the rising Pink Moon glows brightly above Spica, the brightest star within the constellation Virgo the Maiden. Within the hour simply after midnight, the moon arcs above the southern horizon and lies to Spica’s higher proper. When it units on the morning of April 6, the full moon lies to Spica’s proper.
For Southern Hemisphere viewers, the scene is sort of the wrong way up. The full moon lies to the left of Spica as they each rise after sundown. Within the hour simply after midnight, it arcs above the northern horizon and lies to the decrease left of Spica. When it units on the morning of April 6, the full moon lies under Spica.
April full moon lies in Virgo
The April full moon can lie in entrance of one among two constellations of the zodiac. In most years, as it is going to this 12 months, the full moon of April lands in Virgo the Maiden. But when the full moon happens within the closing few days of the month, it will probably fall in Libra the Scales. This doesn’t occur usually and gained’t occur once more till 2037.
Recognizing SpicaAs a result of the full moon may be very vibrant, you won’t spot Spica at first. Attempt blocking the moon behind a foreground object similar to a constructing or a utility pole. Spica is a vital star for studying the evening sky as a result of it’s the southern member of the simply recognizable Spring Triangle. This asterism additionally consists of Arcturus, north of Spica, and Regulus, northwest of Spica. These three stars kind a pretty triangle.
Because the American evening of April 5-6 advances, the Pink Moon strikes noticeably nearer to Spica. Because the full moon sits on the alternative facet of the sky because the sun, when morning twilight begins within the east, the full moon nears the western horizon. It then lies noticeably farther from Spica than it did when it rose almost twelve hours earlier.
Backside line: At full moon, the moon rises round sundown, climbs highest within the sky round midnight, and units round dawn. The April 2023 full moon on the in a single day of April 5–6 is the Pink Moon. It lies close to the star Spica within the constellation Virgo.
