When is the next full moon? April 2024’s Pink Moon is about to dazzle UK
Skygazers in the UK are in for a treat today, as the ‘Pink Moon‘ is set to light up the skies.
This particular full moon is known as the Pink Moon, as it’s the first full moon of spring in the northern hemisphere.
Providing the weather is clear, everyone in the UK should get a good view of the full moon, as it hangs bright in the sky for the next three nights.
As it’s the brightest thing in the sky, it should be easy to spot, and although it is called the Pink Moon, it will, rather unfortunately, not be pink.
Instead, it is called the Pink Moon after the flowers that bloom across North America.
Why is it called the Pink Moon?
Despite the name ‘Pink Moon’, the Earth’s natural satellite won’t actually appear pink.
The moniker appears to have sprung from old Native American tribes, which had names for the moons based on what was going on around them at the time.
For example, the Pink Moon gets its name from the pink wildflowers which bloom in the US each year in early spring. Known as phlox subulata, the flower is commonly called creeping phlox or moss phlox and can also be known as ‘pink moss.’
April’s moon can also be referred to as the Egg Moon, because spring is egg-laying season. It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, Fish Moon, the Pesach or Passover Moon, the Hanuman Jayanti Festival Moon, as it marks a time of renewal and life.
Spiritual meanings of the Pink Moon
In astrology, full moons are always a celestial event, and this Moon is a time for renewal and self-discovery, as the Pink Moon hangs in Scorpio.
The Moon in Scorpio puts the perception on yourself, where Metro.co.uk writer Kerry King, says this is the time where you’ll begin to notice new things about yourself as well as adapting to the changing world around you.
When is the best time to see the Pink Moon?
The best time to see the full moon is tonight, when the Moon will come out in full force, just after midnight, and will hang in the zodiac sign of Scorpio.
The Moon will be at it’s fullest at 12.49am, although it still will appear bright and round for a few nights after.
How often does a full moon occur?
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days and happens when the moon is completely illuminated by the sun’s rays.
It occurs when the Earth is directly aligned between the sun and the moon.
Full moon calendar 2024 dates
Amazingly, we already know when 2024’s full moons will take place, and exactly when to look for them.
The next full moon after the April one will be called the Flower Moon which will take place on May 23 at 1.53 pm.
June sees the arrival of the Strawberry Moon, while the Buck Moon will be visible in the sky in July and the Sturgeon Moon will be seen in August.
You can see the full calendar here…
Full moon dates for 2024, according to The Royal Observatory, with times shown in BST
23 May (1.53 pm) – Flower Moon
22 June (2.08 am) – Strawberry Moon
21 July (11.17 am) – Buck Moon
19 August (7.26 pm) – Sturgeon Moon
18 September (3.34 am) – Corn/Harvest Moon
17 October (12.26 pm) – Hunter’s Moon
15 November (9.28 pm) – Beaver Moon
15 December (9.02 am) – Cold Moon